Pretty much this. Despite the fact that I am blonde and from Europe. Plus (from my perspective and specific to the Netherlands): it's an ecosystem of speculating "professionals". The Tax stuff is all done in Dutch. Accountants and the likes demand huge fees, and the Tax Authority assumes you are a Tax Resident if you incorporate a BV there. It took 4 years after I left Amsterdam (and about 20k EUR) to get rid of the annoyance of the Belastingdienst / Accountants demanding I would file personal and business stuff there, while I was actually living in another continent. I have been living in more than 8 Countries up to now, and the Dutch Society is the only one I am positive I will never ever try to join again.