The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty route is unusually accessible compared with other self-employment permits, which is exactly why prospective applicants want the process described in sequence rather than as a list of requirements. Business banking and registration steps are where the timeline tends to stretch.
The mechanics are well-documented and fairly predictable if you follow them in order. You register a business with KVK (the Chamber of Commerce) — most people choose a simple eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) over a BV to start — open a Dutch business bank account, and deposit at least €4,500, which has to stay in that account for as long as your permit is active. With that in place, you submit the DAFT application to the IND alongside a fairly basic business plan; there's no "added value to the Dutch economy" test the way there is for the regular self-employed permit, and the IND is known to apply something close to a benefit-of-the-doubt standard here, given the underlying treaty. Realistic total timeline from starting the paperwork to holding the permit runs about four to six months once you fold in KVK registration, opening the bank account (some banks are slow with non-resident business accounts), and IND processing, which tends to run four to six weeks once the file is complete. After approval, you still register at the gemeente for your BSN and sort out BTW (VAT) registration with the Belastingdienst. The permit is issued for two years, renewable, with a five-year path to permanent residency if the business stays genuinely active.