Peppol BIS 3.0 in the Netherlands: A Practical Guide
The Netherlands has no B2B e-invoicing mandate, but Peppol adoption is among the highest in Europe. Here is how it works.
The Netherlands is one of the most Peppol-connected countries in Europe, despite having no mandatory B2B e-invoicing requirement. Dutch government agencies have accepted e-invoices via Peppol since 2017, and voluntary adoption among businesses has grown steadily. If you invoice Dutch clients, Peppol BIS 3.0 is the format to use.
What is Peppol BIS 3.0?
Peppol BIS 3.0 (Business Interoperability Specification) is an e-invoicing format built on UBL 2.1 (Universal Business Language) that follows the European standard EN 16931. It is the standard format on the Peppol network for exchanging structured electronic invoices.
Peppol BIS is a pure XML format with no PDF component. This makes it similar to Germany's XRechnung (also UBL 2.1-based) and different from hybrid formats like ZUGFeRD or Factur-X that embed XML inside a PDF.
| Format | UBL 2.1 XML |
| Standard | EN 16931 |
| Current version | Peppol BIS 3.0 |
| File type | .xml |
| Maintained by | OpenPeppol AISBL |
Peppol in the Netherlands
The Dutch government was an early Peppol adopter. Central government agencies have been able to receive e-invoices via Peppol since 2017, and Logius (the Dutch digital government agency) became the official Peppol Authority for the Netherlands in 2020.
There is no law requiring Dutch businesses to send or receive e-invoices. But the government's early adoption created momentum: many large companies and accounting platforms in the Netherlands now support Peppol, making it the de facto standard for structured invoicing.
Businesses on the Peppol network are identified by a Peppol Participant ID. For Dutch companies, this is typically the KVK number (Kamer van Koophandel / Chamber of Commerce registration, scheme 0106) or the Dutch BTW-nummer / VAT number (scheme 9944).
Dutch e-invoicing timeline
The Netherlands has taken a voluntary-adoption approach rather than mandating e-invoicing for B2B:
| Date | Milestone | Who is affected |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | B2G e-invoicing via Peppol (government can receive) | Central government suppliers |
| 2020 | Logius becomes Dutch Peppol Authority (NPA) | Peppol ecosystem governance |
| 2026 | No B2B mandate announced; voluntary adoption continues | All businesses (optional) |
While there is no mandate, the trend is clear. More Dutch businesses connect to Peppol each year, and the government continues to encourage electronic invoicing. If a mandate comes, Peppol BIS will almost certainly be the required format.
Dutch VAT rates
The Netherlands uses three VAT rates. Select the correct rate for each line item when creating a Peppol BIS invoice:
| Rate | Name | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 21% | Algemeen tarief | Most goods and services (default rate) |
| 9% | Verlaagd tarief | Food, water, medicines, books, newspapers, hotels, public transport, cultural events |
| 0% | Nultarief / Vrijgesteld | Exports, intra-EU supplies, medical services, education, financial services |
Netherlands vs. Belgium: same format, different context
Both countries use Peppol BIS 3.0, but the regulatory context differs:
- Mandate status — Belgium mandated B2B e-invoicing from January 2026. The Netherlands has no mandate; adoption is voluntary.
- Participant IDs — Dutch businesses use KVK number (scheme 0106) or BTW-nummer (scheme 9944). Belgian businesses use KBO/BCE number (scheme 0208) or Belgian VAT number (scheme 9925).
- Technical format — Identical. Both use Peppol BIS 3.0 (UBL 2.1, EN 16931). An invoice generator that handles one handles the other.
For details on Belgian e-invoicing, see our Peppol BIS guide for Belgium.
Getting started with Dutch Peppol invoices
To create a Peppol BIS invoice for a Dutch client:
- Enter your business details, including your company name, address, and VAT number
- Add your Dutch client with their company name, address, BTW-nummer, and Peppol ID (typically their KVK number in format 0106:xxxxxxxx)
- Add line items with descriptions, quantities, unit prices, and the correct Dutch VAT rate (21%, 9%, or 0%)
- NormaForm auto-selects Peppol BIS 3.0 as the format. Download the .xml file and submit it through your Peppol access point
NormaForm generates Peppol BIS 3.0 XML with correct UBL 2.1 structure, EN 16931 compliance, Dutch Peppol endpoint identifiers, and Dutch VAT handling.