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Regional office · Updated October 2026

Benelux (BOIP): regional trademark registration

Who registers trademarks in Benelux (BOIP), what it costs, how long it takes and what foreign owners need — with links to the official sources and IP firms that can file for you.

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Quick answer

Trademarks in Benelux (BOIP) are registered with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP); third parties can oppose within 2 months from publication of the application. A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed. Benelux (BOIP) can be designated through the Madrid System.

Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources

Office
BOIP
Madrid Protocol
Member since 1998
Opposition
2 months from publication of the application (n…
Protection
10 years from filing date
Multi-class filing
Allowed

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Official fees in Benelux (BOIP)

The office does not publish an up-to-date fee schedule we could verify. Ask firms that cover Benelux (BOIP) for a quote that shows official and professional fees separately — post a request or compare packages.

How to register a trademark in Benelux (BOIP)

  1. Search the register (for example via TMview) for earlier identical or similar marks in the Benelux.
  2. File a single application with BOIP covering Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, listing goods and services by Nice class and paying the filing fee.
  3. BOIP examines formalities, classification and absolute grounds for refusal; if it raises an objection, the applicant initially has one month to respond, extendable up to six months.
  4. The application is published, and third parties may file an opposition within two months of publication.
  5. If there is no opposition or objection, the mark is registered; an applicant can instead request accelerated registration for an extra fee.
  6. Renew the registration every 10 years from the filing date.

Examination, publication and opposition

  • Examination: BOIP examines absolute grounds for refusal ex officio; earlier rights are considered only in opposition proceedings. A 2022 practitioner source states that applications without objections proceed to registration in about four months.
  • Publication: Applications and registrations are published online by BOIP.
  • Opposition period: 2 months from publication of the application (not extendable)
  • Typical timeline: About 4 months from filing to registration if there are no objections or oppositions (practitioner source, 2022).

Protection, renewal and use

  • Term: 10 years from the filing date, renewable.
  • Late renewal: 6 months after expiry, with an additional fee
  • Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.
  • Rights system: first to file.

Filing from abroad

  • Local agent: Anyone may apply, but an applicant or party without a correspondence address in the European Economic Area must appoint a representative or give a correspondence address in the EEA.
  • Power of attorney: A power of attorney is generally not required for filing; BOIP may request one (for example for withdrawal or limitation of a mark), in which case a simple copy with a handwritten signature suffices.
  • Language: Applications can be filed in Dutch, French or English; the language of the application affects the language of any opposition proceedings.

Firms on TrademarksHub that cover Benelux (BOIP) can act as your local agent — see firms.

Madrid Protocol

Benelux (BOIP) is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 1998). You can designate it in an international application filed through your home office, or file a national application directly. A local firm can advise which route is cheaper for your classes and timeline.

Trademark classes

Nice Classification (45 classes). One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Benelux (BOIP) compares

Guides: registering in any country · costs by country · Madrid

Members and coverage

  • A Benelux trademark is a single regional right covering Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; national trademarks for these three countries cannot be obtained separately.
  • Accelerated registration is available for an extra fee: the mark can be registered within days, but it remains open to opposition and the Office can still cancel the registration on absolute grounds.
  • BOIP does not refuse marks on the basis of earlier rights; owners of earlier marks must oppose within two months of publication.
  • Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg can be designated in a Madrid international registration only together, as the Benelux territory.
  • Non-use for 5 years after registration exposes the mark to revocation; proof of use is not required for renewal.

Questions

Which countries does a Benelux trademark cover?
A Benelux trademark covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg with a single registration filed at the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP).
How long does it take to register a trademark in the Benelux?
If there are no objections or oppositions, an application generally proceeds to registration in about four months. Accelerated registration is available for an extra fee.
How long is the opposition period in the Benelux?
Oppositions must be filed within two months of publication of the application, and this period cannot be extended.
Do foreign applicants need a representative in the Benelux?
Anyone may apply, but an applicant without a correspondence address in the European Economic Area must appoint a representative or give a correspondence address in the EEA.
How long does a Benelux trademark last?
Registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for further 10-year periods, with a 6-month grace period after expiry subject to an additional fee.
Is the Benelux part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have been Madrid Protocol members since 1 April 1998 and are designated together as the Benelux.