In brief
- The SBI (Standaard Bedrijfsindeling) is the Dutch classification of economic activities, based on the European NACE.
- Since 6 September 2025 the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) has used a revised classification (SBI 2025); Statistics Netherlands (CBS) is switching in phases.
- A company has one main activity; secondary activities are not found with a filter on the main code.
- Watch out for large groups with many freelancers and holding companies, such as 70.22 and 70.10.
When ordering a list of companies, people usually describe the target group in plain words: “installers in the east”, “online fashion shops”. A database works with codes. The translation between the two determines whether you get the right companies.
How the SBI is structured
The SBI has five levels. A letter stands for the section (for example F for construction), two digits for the division (43 specialised construction), three for the group (43.2 building installation), four for the class (43.22 plumbers and installation companies). The fifth digit is Dutch: it splits a European class further, for example 43.221 plumbing firms and 43.222 heating installation firms.
| Code | CBS description | Businesses |
|---|---|---|
| 43.21 | Electrical installation | 20,965 |
| 43.22 | Plumbers and installation companies | 18,770 |
| 47.914 | Online shops in clothing | 23,670 |
| 62.01 | Software development | 49,085 |
| 70.10 | Holding companies, head offices | 83,440 |
| 70.22 | Management consultancy | 154,920 |
SBI 2008 and SBI 2025
The SBI is revised roughly every fifteen years. Since 6 September 2025 the KVK has used a revised SBI code in the business register, developed with CBS and aligned with the European classification (KVK, in Dutch). CBS now publishes tables in both versions, for example 81589NED (SBI 2008) and 86280NED (SBI 2025), and is switching its statistics over in phases.
For a company list this means that the same activity can have a different code in two sources. Ask which version a delivery uses. On contactendatabase.nl we describe the industries with SBI 2008, because the official counts we show per industry are published in that version.
Main activity and secondary activities
In the statistics every company has exactly one main activity. In the business register a business can state several activities, but one of them is the main activity. An installer who also fits solar panels is found under 43.22, not under electrical work. If you want everyone who offers a service, a code filter is not enough and you also need to search websites.
Three pitfalls
- Holding companies are included. Division 70 contains 83,440 holding companies and head offices (70.10). If you are looking for consultancies, use 70.2, not 70.
- Many freelancers in broad codes. Management consultancy (70.22), industrial design (74.10) and the arts (90) consist largely of one-person businesses. Combine the code with the legal form or a website as a mandatory field.
- Online shop or shop. A shop with a web shop as a side activity is listed under its product range in division 47, not under online shops (47.91).
From target group to codes: an example
“Companies that install heat pumps in Overijssel and Gelderland” becomes: SBI 43.22 (and possibly 43.21), provinces Overijssel and Gelderland, mandatory field phone, legal entities only if you want to call. Discuss the translation with your supplier and have the codes included in the quotation. How we define the 22 industries can be seen on every industry page.
