Coöperatie
Cooperative
A cooperative is an association with legal personality whose object is to promote the economic interests of its members by entering into agreements with them.
A cooperative is a special form of association governed by Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. Its members are both owners and users of the services or products offered by the cooperative, such as joint procurement, sale or processing.
This legal form is particularly relevant in sectors such as agriculture, retail and financial services. Members exercise influence over policy through the general meeting, where the principle of one member, one vote often applies.
In practice, a cooperative affords its members tax and commercial benefits together with limited liability, provided the articles of association so stipulate.
“The dairy farmers established a cooperative to jointly process and sell their milk.”
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