The SBI (Standaard Bedrijfsindeling) classification system in the Netherlands is a standardized system managed by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) to categorize the economic activities of businesses and organizations. It is based on the NACE classification used across the European Union but with adaptations for the Dutch economic context. The SBI is a hierarchical five-level system ranging from broad sectors at the highest level (one-digit codes) to more specific activities at the lowest level (5-digit codes). Upon registration, every business in the Netherlands is assigned one or more SBI codes.
Structure
The current version of SBI is structured hierarchically into five levels of aggregation. With only a few exceptions, levels one to four are aligned with the EU's NACE system, while the fifth is defined according to the Dutch economic context. More specifically, the layout of SBI is as follows:
First level: 21 broad categories represented by capital letters from A to U. These are major sectors of the economy.
Second level: 82 activities represented by two-digit codes break down sections into more specific activities.
Third level: 267 categories represented by three-digit codes split the second level into narrower groups.
Fourth level: 603 activities represented by four-digit codes provide detailed categories within the third level.
Fifth level: 478 activities represented by five-digit codes and defined according to the Dutch context. Comparing SBI with the current versions of other national classification systems that use a five-level format, we see that NOGA (Switzerland) has 794 five-digit industries while the UK SIC (United Kingdom) has 191.
The table below breaks down each of the 21 sections in SBI. At the fourth (four-digit) classification level, the "manufacturing" and "wholesale and retail trade" sectors (C and G) have the highest number of industries (234 and 92, respectively). However, at the five-digit level, the "wholesale and retail trade" and "culture, sports and recreation" sectors are two of the most diverse in SBI with 180 and 47 activities respectively. For example, the four-digit industry 46.73 covering "wholesale of wood, sanitary equipment and other construction materials" is further split into nine five-digit industries ranging from "wholesale of wood and board" (46.73.1) to "non-specialized wholesale of construction materials" (46.73.9). As for the diversity of the "culture, sports and recreation" sector, we see, for example, the four-digit industry 93.12 in SBI covering "outdoor sports" broken down into nine five-digit activities ranging from football (93.12.1) to "other outdoor sports" (93.12.9).
First level | Title | Second level | Third level | Fourth level | Fifth level |
A | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 3 | 12 | 29 | 35 |
B | Mining and quarrying | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
C | Manufacturing | 24 | 97 | 234 | 37 |
D | Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
E | Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 4 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
F | Construction | 3 | 9 | 22 | 8 |
G | Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 3 | 21 | 92 | 180 |
H | Transportation and storage | 5 | 15 | 22 | 17 |
I | Accommodation and food service activities | 2 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
J | Information and communication | 6 | 13 | 26 | 2 |
K | Financial institutions | 3 | 9 | 19 | 27 |
L | Renting, buying and selling of real estate | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
M | Consultancy, research and other specialized business services | 7 | 15 | 19 | 32 |
N | Renting and leasing of tangible goods and other business support services | 6 | 19 | 33 | 16 |
O | Public administration, public services and compulsory social security | 1 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
P | Education | 1 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
Q | Human health and social work activities | 3 | 9 | 13 | 29 |
R | Culture, sports and recreation | 4 | 5 | 17 | 47 |
S | Other service activities | 3 | 6 | 19 | 16 |
T | Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and service-producing activities of households for own use | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
U | Extraterritorial organizations and bodies | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 82 | 267 | 603 | 478 |
History & Versions
Background: The SBI system was introduced in 1974 as part of a broader effort to improve economic data collection and analysis in the Netherlands. Its primary purpose was to provide a standardized way to classify economic activities, making it easier to compare data across different industries and sectors, both within the country and internationally. The system is part of a larger international effort to standardize economic classifications. It is closely aligned with the European Union's NACE (Nomenclature of Economic Activities) system, which itself is based on the United Nations' ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification). SBI was revised in 1993 (SBI 1993) to better reflect the economy at that time.
Current Version (2008): SBI 2008 (update 2022) is the SBI version currently in use reflecting changes in the global and national economy, such as the rise of information technology, services, and the digital economy. The 2008 revision also improved the alignment with the NACE Rev. 2 classification, ensuring that the Dutch system remained compatible with European standards. Apart form its 2022 update, here have been nine previous annual updates between 2012 and 2021, featuring mostly minor changes. A major revision of the SBI (SBI 2025) is in progress and is expected to come into operation in 2025.
Where is it used?
The SBI classification system is used across major government agencies and the private sector in the Netherlands. Government agencies rely on it for statistical reporting and economic planning. Businesses use SBI codes for regulatory compliance, tax reporting, and market analysis. The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) requires companies to register their SBI codes, which identify their primary and secondary business activities. In addition to its administrative and regulatory uses, the SBI system is a widely used classification system for researchers of business and socioeconomic issues in the Netherlands.
Further Resources
Download SBI
Current version (SBI 2008, update 2022): This is an English translation of the SBI provided by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK).
Older versions (SBI 1974 & 1993): Available in Dutch.