Dutch VAT number (btw-id)

The Netherlands has two numbers, and mixing them up is the usual mistake. The btw-id is NL, nine digits, B and two digits: it goes on invoices and into VIES. The omzetbelastingnummer is for contact with the tax office, and for a sole trader it contains the citizen service number (BSN).

The Belastingdienst gave sole traders a new btw-id from 1 January 2020 for this reason, and the old number is no longer recognised in VIES.