A VvE comes into being automatically on the division into apartment rights, and every apartment owner is automatically a member (article 5:125(2) BW). So the VvE exists even if nobody does anything with it. This is called a dormant VvE. It is not a legal term, but a common one.
A dormant VvE does not release owners from their obligations. The legal duty to keep a reserve fund also applies to small VvE's (article 5:126 BW). On a sale, the board must issue a statement on arrears, the reserve fund and the VvE's debts (article 5:122(5) and (6) BW), which is difficult without records.
Reactivating usually starts with a meeting: appoint a board, update the KVK registration, open a bank account in the VvE's name, adopt a budget and arrange the reserve. If there is no board, the chair of the meeting takes its place in case of absence or vacancy, unless the articles or the meeting provide otherwise (article 5:133 BW).
See also: Owners' association (VvE), KVK registration of the VvE, Reserve fund (reservefonds), VvE board, Statement on sale (5:122 statement)
Read more: Activating a dormant VvE, VvE with two apartments
Legal basis: Boek 5 BW, art. 5:122, 5:125, 5:126, 5:133