---
title: "Getting Started"
space: "ERPNext"
url: "https://www.prilk.com/docs/erpnext/localization/netherlands/getting-started"
updated: "2026-05-15"
---

# Getting Started

Five steps to get a new Dutch company live on ERPNext with this localization
installed. Plan on 15–30 minutes if you're starting from a fresh ERPNext
install; longer if you're migrating from another ERP and need to align an
existing chart of accounts.

## Step 1 — Set the Company country to Netherlands

Open the Company record (Setup → Company → *your company name*). In the
**Country** field, pick **Netherlands** and save. The localization layer
only activates for companies whose country is Netherlands — this keeps the
NL hooks off any non-Dutch companies you might run in the same bench.

## Step 2 — Run "Setup Dutch Localization"

On the same Company form, open the **NL Localization** menu (top right) and
click **Setup Dutch Localization**. Confirm when prompted. This one button
creates everything you need:

- RGS Schema Accounts (the Dutch reference grootboekschema — global, shared
  across all companies on this site)
- Seven Tax Categories (NL-Domestic, NL-Domestic-Reduced, EU-B2B, EU-B2C,
  Non-EU, NL-RC-Construction, Exempt)
- Item Tax Templates per category, company-specific
- NL Tax Account Settings — the mapping from your GL accounts to the BTW
  return boxes
- Company default accounts pre-filled with the right Dutch accounts
- An *RGS Schema Account* link on every existing Account in your chart

Setup is idempotent — re-running it later won't duplicate anything; it tops
up what's missing.

## Step 3 — Verify the setup

After setup completes, spot-check:

- Open **Chart of Accounts** — accounts should show RGS codes alongside.
- Open **Tax Category list** — you should see all seven categories.
- Open **NL Tax Account Settings** for your company — every BTW box should
  point to a real GL account.

If anything is missing, run Setup Dutch Localization again.

## Step 4 — Tag every Customer and Supplier with a Tax Category

Open each Customer and pick the right Tax Category in the **Accounting**
tab. Same for Suppliers. The category controls which BTW boxes the
transaction lands in — get this wrong and your VAT return will pull the
wrong numbers.

Rough mapping:

- Dutch B2B/B2C buying at 21% → **NL-Domestic**
- Dutch buying reduced-rate items (food, books, hotels) → **NL-Domestic-Reduced**
- Other EU businesses with valid VAT number → **EU-B2B**
- Other EU consumers (no VAT number) → **EU-B2C**
- Outside the EU → **Non-EU**
- Construction-services reverse charge → **NL-RC-Construction**
- Tax-exempt activities (medical, education, financial) → **Exempt**

## Step 5 — Start invoicing

That's it. Create Sales Invoices and Purchase Invoices as you normally
would. The validate hook will pick the right income/expense account from
the NL Account Mapping based on Tax Category + Item Group on each line.
Your first BTW return is one click away — see [VAT Returns](../features/vat-returns).

## Optional — configure overheid.io for KvK lookup

If you want the [KvK Lookup](../features/kvk-lookup) buttons on
Customer / Supplier records (recommended for any B2B customer base), open
**Netherlands Localization Settings** and:

1. Tick **Enable KvK Lookup**.
2. Paste your **overheid.io API Key** into the password field.
3. Save.

overheid.io's free tier returns test data only; paid plans start around
€150/year for 2,500 lookups/month. Skip this section if you don't need
KvK enrichment — every other feature works without it.