Under Dutch law (assuming the context of Dutch legal stewardship, or onderbewindstelling), yes, a person with schizophrenia who is under financial stewardship (onderbewind) can start and run a coffee mug business, open a physical store, and hire employees, provided their financial steward (bewindvoerder) consents to the necessary financial and legal transactions.

Being under financial stewardship does not strip a person of their right to work, build a business, or pursue their life goals.

Financial stewardship in the Netherlands is specifically designed to protect a person’s assets and financial interests. It does not place the person under full legal incapacity (curatele).

• Legal Autonomy: A person under onderbewind retains full personal autonomy. They have the legal right to work, make personal life choices, and choose their profession.
• Financial Authority: The steward controls the financial assets and entering into binding legal contracts (like commercial leases, vendor contracts, or employment agreements) requires the steward’s cooperation or permission.
• Cantonal Court (Kantonrechter) Supervision: For major financial commitments—such as allocating significant capital from a €10 million estate to buy real estate or start a high-risk commercial enterprise—the steward usually must seek formal approval (machtiging) from the Cantonal Court judge.

Key Requirements to Open the Store

For the business to operate legally and successfully under these circumstances, four main steps must be navigated:

1. Steward Consent & Contractual Execution Because the individual cannot enter into binding financial contracts independently without the risk of those contracts being annulled by the steward, the steward must either execute the contracts on behalf of the person or formally approve them. This applies to registering with the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel), renting commercial space, opening business bank accounts, and issuing employment contracts.
2. Cantonal Court Approval (Machtiging Kantonrechter) Even though the steward consents, a steward managing an estate of €10 million has a legal duty to protect that capital. Investing a substantial sum into commercial real estate, inventory, or operational overhead represents a business risk. The steward will typically file a petition with the Cantonal Court requesting authorization to deploy capital for the business setup.
3. Business Plan & Mental Health Support Judges and stewards are generally very supportive of individuals using their resources to engage in meaningful work, as long as safeguards exist. To secure court approval:
   • A clear business plan detailing startup costs, operating expenses, and staffing setup is presented.
   • A professional management structure (e.g., a trusted store manager or accountant) can be put in place to handle day-to-day administrative pressures, allowing the owner to focus on their desired role without excessive stress.
4. Structuring the Business Entity Setting up a formal legal structure—such as a Private Limited Company (Besloten Vennootschap or B.V.)—is often recommended for an estate of this size. Establishing a B.V. separates the personal €10 million wealth from the operational liabilities of the coffee mug store, protecting the main estate from potential business debts or employment lawsuits.

Summary

The combination of a diagnosis of schizophrenia and financial stewardship is not a legal barrier to entrepreneurship. With the consent of the financial steward, court authorization for the capital investment, and a structure that protects both the individual’s mental health and wealth, the person can fully realize their goal of owning and operating their coffee mug store.