Netherlands vs Malta: which jurisdiction wins?

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

	Netherlands	Malta
Tax headline	25.8% corporate; participation exemption for holdings	35% headline, ~5% effective via refund system
Formation days	5	7
First-year cost	$6,500	$4,500
Treaties	95+	70+
Substance	Substance decree — mandatory directors, payroll, office	EU substance requirements + DAC6
Banking	ING, Rabobank, ABN AMRO	Bank of Valletta, APS, plus EU EMIs

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.