Netherlands vs Cayman Islands: which jurisdiction wins?

Netherlands vs Cayman Islands — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	Netherlands	Cayman Islands
Tax headline	25.8% corporate; participation exemption for holdings	0% corporate, capital gains, and income tax
Formation days	5	5
First-year cost	$6,500	$4,200
Treaties	95+	Limited
Substance	Substance decree — mandatory directors, payroll, office	Economic Substance Law applies to relevant activities
Banking	ING, Rabobank, ABN AMRO	Top-tier prime brokerage and crypto-friendly banking via Cayman National & private banks

Talk to a partner before you incorporate.

Wrong jurisdiction, wrong substance, or wrong bank shortlist is a 12-month problem. A 30-minute briefing fixes 80% of it.