Is there any way to get Dutch residency purely by investing money?

No — the investor permit was abolished in 2013 with no replacement. Every current route requires an active professional, employment, or business role.

What replaced the old investor permit?

Nothing directly — the closest active alternatives are the Highly Skilled Migrant permit (employer-sponsored) and the self-employed/freelance permit (points-based business assessment).

Is there any route specific to US citizens?

Yes — the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) gives US nationals a simplified self-employment permit with a lower capital bar than the standard self-employed route, under the 1956 treaty.

Does the Netherlands have a golden visa?

Plain-language guide · Netherlands · general information

Short answer

No. The Netherlands abolished its investor residence permit — the "Regeling Vergunninghouder Buitenlandse Investeerders" — on 1 October 2013, and no successor scheme has been enacted or formally proposed since. There is no category on the IND's official portal (ind.nl) for passive investor residence.

What that old programme required, and why it ended

It required a minimum investment of €1.25 million in a Dutch company or a designated investment fund, for a renewable one-year permit. The government's stated reason for scrapping it was that the programme generated insufficient economic value relative to its administrative cost, and that the threshold was too low to attract genuinely transformative capital.

The current alternatives — all require active engagement

Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) permit — employer-sponsored, requires a recognised sponsor and a minimum gross monthly salary set annually by the IND.
Self-employed / freelance residence permit — points-based assessment of the business plan, personal experience, and added value to the Dutch economy.
US nationals only: the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) route — a simplified self-employment permit available exclusively to US citizens under the 1956 bilateral treaty, with a lower capital requirement than the standard self-employed permit.

See immicor's Netherlands deep dive for the full picture.

The tax angle

The 30% ruling gives eligible incoming employees a tax facility that treats 30% of gross salary as tax-free reimbursement for extraterritorial costs, for a limited period. This applies to qualifying employees, not investors, and works alongside — not instead of — a valid residence permit.

Because there's no passive-investment route, the practical question for a HNW applicant isn't "how much do I invest" but "what active role — employee, entrepreneur, or self-employed professional — do I take in the Netherlands."

Common questions

Is there any way to get Dutch residency purely by investing money?: No — the investor permit was abolished in 2013 with no replacement. Every current route requires an active professional, employment, or business role.
What replaced the old investor permit?: Nothing directly — the closest active alternatives are the Highly Skilled Migrant permit (employer-sponsored) and the self-employed/freelance permit (points-based business assessment).
Is there any route specific to US citizens?: Yes — the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) gives US nationals a simplified self-employment permit with a lower capital bar than the standard self-employed route, under the 1956 treaty.

Not sure whether the HSM permit or the self-employed route fits your situation? Tell the assistant about your job or business plans for a plain-language walkthrough.

This guide is general information about Dutch residence permits and is not immigration advice. Confirm current thresholds with the IND (ind.nl) or an appropriately licensed Dutch immigration advisor.