Exclusive Services
1
Was a Decision Made About Your Inheritance in Turkey Without You?
You were born and raised in the Netherlands — your life is here. Your tie to Turkey is summer holidays and family visits. Then one day you learn: the house, the field, or the company share your father left was divided without you. Maybe the other heirs settled it among themselves, maybe a case was heard in Turkey and you never even knew about it.
The first reaction is almost always: "I don't know how things work over there, there's nothing left to do." In most cases, that's not true.
Your right hasn't disappeared
Turkish law requires all heirs to take part in dividing an estate. A division that leaves you out generally doesn't bind you. If a case was heard in your absence, the key question is whether you were properly notified — heirs abroad are often notified incorrectly or not at all, which opens new doors for you.
Living abroad, dual nationality, or a Blue Card don't affect your inheritance rights. But some legal remedies are time-limited — waiting after you learn about it can cost you your strongest options.
No need to travel to Turkey.
With a power of attorney issued through Turkey's consulates in the Netherlands, everything — from reviewing land registry records to following the case — is handled on your behalf.
2
A Turkish Citizen Wanting to Start Your Own Business in the Netherlands?
Most Turkish nationals looking to work as self-employed or start a business in the Netherlands turn first to standard immigration law — income requirements, points-based tests, business plan assessments. For non-EU nationals, that route is strict and unpredictable. There is, however, a second, far less known route that applies specifically to Turkish nationals — one the Dutch immigration authorities have little interest in reminding you of.
The Ankara Agreement is still in force
The 1963 Ankara Agreement and its Additional Protocol, signed between Turkey and the then European Economic Community, remain binding today. Its "standstill" clause provides that no stricter restriction may be placed on the freedom of establishment of Turkish nationals than the rules in force on the date the agreement took effect for that country — for the Netherlands, 1973.
In practice, this means the more flexible 1973 rules — not today's stricter immigration criteria — can often apply to a Turkish national's self-employment application. The European Court of Justice has confirmed this repeatedly, in rulings such as Tum and Dari and Soysal.
Who can rely on this right?
This route is especially valuable for consultants, craftspeople, service providers, and small business founders. Several strict criteria required under the standard route may not apply, or may be assessed differently, here — but it isn't automatic; the application must be properly grounded and built on the right precedent.
Where to start
The first step is assessing whether your situation falls within the scope of the Ankara Agreement — whether the standard route or the agreement route is the better fit for your business idea, current status, and goal. This clarifies the right foundation for your application and reduces the risk of refusal.
Ozturk Legal manages the process for Turkish nationals establishing a business in the Netherlands under their Ankara Agreement rights, from Amsterdam. Tell us about your situation — we'll map out a concrete path forward.
3
Thinking of Bringing Your Restaurant to the Netherlands?
Turkish cuisine is going through a transformation in Europe. Beyond döner and lahmacun, esnaf lokantası-style neighbourhood cooking, meyhane culture, and contemporary Anatolian cuisine are seeing growing demand in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. If you have an established brand in Turkey, this market may be your natural next step.
But opening a restaurant in the Netherlands takes more than a strong concept and enough capital. The part that doesn't show is the legal structure — and getting it wrong creates serious cost in year one.
Ask the right questions from the start
Will you open a branch, or set up a new Dutch company? That choice affects everything from taxation to liability. Running a restaurant is also subject to municipal permitting: alcohol service, terrace use, and the operating licence work differently in every municipality, and the process can take months. You need this picture clear before you sign a lease — commercial leases in the Netherlands tend to bind the tenant for a long time.
How will your chef and your team get here?
One of the most critical questions is this: how will you bring the chef who carries your kitchen's identity, and your key staff, to the Netherlands? Turkish nationals — both entrepreneurs and employees — hold a distinct position in European law. Rights arising from the agreements between Turkey and the EU, used correctly, can meaningfully smooth this process. Most operators don't know these rights exist and end up taking the harder route unnecessarily.
The same applies to you: if you want to run the business yourself on the ground, your residence and work status need to be planned together with the commercial structure, not separately. These should be designed as a single plan, not two.
4
Entering the European Market Without Securing Your Trademark First?
Turkish brands are no longer reaching Europe through exports alone — they're arriving directly through physical stores, e-commerce, and trade fairs. If you have a well-known brand you've built up over years at home, expanding into Europe can look like a natural next step. But there's a common assumption here that can lead to serious costs.
Why registration stops at the border
Trademark rights are territorial. Your registration with TÜRKPATENT protects you only within Turkey's borders — it creates no automatic right in Europe. The same or a similar mark may already have been registered in Europe by someone else without your knowledge — sometimes by a bad-faith "trademark squatter," sometimes simply by coincidence. In that case, you could be blocked from entering Europe under your own name, or forced to rebrand something you've used for years.
There are two main routes to protection in Europe: a single application to EUIPO covering all EU member states, or extending your existing Turkish registration to your chosen countries through WIPO's Madrid System. Which route is right for you depends on your target markets and your growth plan.
Early registration costs less than late registration
Registering before you enter Europe costs no more than a limited application fee. Running into a conflict after you've already entered the market costs far more: opposition proceedings, potential litigation costs, rebranding expenses, and lost time. On top of that, you may have to change everything from your storefront signage to your packaging, your website to your marketing materials.
Where to start
The first step is an availability search: is your brand already registered by someone else in your target markets, is there a conflicting similarity that would block registration? This search clarifies which countries and which method — an EU trademark or the Madrid System — you should proceed with, and lets you budget accurately.
Send Us an Inquiry
Every case is different, and the right path forward depends on the specifics of yours. Tell us briefly what's going on — the situation, any documents or deadlines you're aware of, and what you're trying to achieve — and we'll get back to you with an initial assessment.
You can write to us in Turkish, Dutch, or English. There's no cost or obligation at this stage; we simply need enough information to tell you where you stand and what your options are.