[digitalengineer]

Even better, according to the guys at Appsterdam there's this piece of law created after WW2 where anyone from the US can start their own company in Holland. USA citizens can apply for a Dutch residence permit to be self-employed or operate their business in the Netherlands. They can also sponsor their married partners and minor children for residence. http://www.expatlaw.nl/dutch_american_friendship_treaty.htm

[mtrimpe]

And we also have a classic entrepreneurs visa, for which you'll be evaluated on education, experience and the innovativity & financial position of the company.

If you're a solid startup that should be fairly easy to pass, but it's not a done deal. Only about 300 people per year pass the criteria in practice.

You can find the criteria in Dutch here: https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2010-16617.htm... That URL breaks Google translate oddly enough though, so you'll have to copy and paste the content.

[joonix]

I'm guessing residents under this visa don't get any government benefits such as free healthcare, correct?

[digitalengineer]

I think you just buy regular basic insurance like the rest. It costs about €99,-