Best Accounting Software for Dutch Sole Proprietors

When we set up our eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) through the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), we made the mistake of trying to track everything in a spreadsheet. That lasted about two months before it became a mess.

Good accounting software saves you time, keeps you compliant with Dutch bookkeeping requirements, and makes tax season far less painful. Here is our honest comparison of the main options available to Dutch sole proprietors.

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What to Look For

Before comparing specific tools, here is what matters for a DAFT entrepreneur:

• Dutch compliance: Proper BTW handling, correct invoice formatting, integration with the Belastingdienst portal
• English interface: Critical unless your Dutch is strong
• Bank connection: Automatic import of transactions from your Dutch bank
• Invoice templates: Built-in templates that meet all Dutch invoicing requirements
• BTW returns: Ability to generate quarterly BTW figures for filing
• Affordability: You are running a small business; enterprise pricing is overkill

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Moneybird

Moneybird is the most popular accounting software among Dutch freelancers and small businesses. It is built specifically for the Dutch market.

Price: Free plan available (limited features). Paid plans start at roughly 12 euros per month.

Pros:

• Full English interface (well translated, not clunky)
• Designed from the ground up for Dutch tax rules
• Automatic bank connection with most Dutch banks (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, bunq)
• Generates BTW return numbers ready to enter into the Belastingdienst portal
• Clean, modern interface that is easy to learn
• Receipt scanning via mobile app
• Accountant access so your tax adviser can log in directly

Cons:

• The free plan is very limited (10 invoices per year)
• Some advanced features (like multi-currency invoicing) require higher tiers
• Customer support is primarily in Dutch, though English is available

Best for: Most DAFT entrepreneurs. If you want one recommendation and do not want to overthink it, start with Moneybird.

Pro Tip: Moneybird's free plan is enough to test the software and see if you like the interface. Upgrade to a paid plan once you start invoicing regularly. The time savings on BTW returns alone is worth the monthly fee.

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e-Boekhouden

Another Dutch-built option that has been around since 2003. Popular with accountants and bookkeepers, which means your accountant might already be familiar with it.

Price: Starting at roughly 16 euros per month.

Pros:

• Very thorough Dutch compliance — built by accountants for the Dutch market
• Bank connections with all major Dutch banks
• Detailed reporting for tax purposes
• Good integration with accountant workflows
• Handles more complex bookkeeping scenarios if your business grows

Cons:

• The interface feels dated compared to Moneybird
• English language support is available but the translation quality varies
• Steeper learning curve, especially if you are not familiar with Dutch accounting concepts
• Less intuitive for someone without bookkeeping experience

Best for: DAFT entrepreneurs who work closely with a Dutch accountant and want software their accountant prefers. Also good if you anticipate more complex bookkeeping needs (multiple revenue streams, inventory).

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Exact Online

Exact is a large Dutch software company. Exact Online is their cloud accounting product, widely used by Dutch SMEs and accountants.

Price: Starting at roughly 25-30 euros per month for the basic plan.

Pros:

• Extremely well-established in the Dutch market — your accountant almost certainly knows it
• Full Dutch compliance with deep reporting capabilities
• Scales well if your business grows significantly
• Good English interface
• Strong integration ecosystem (connects with many other business tools)

Cons:

• More expensive than Moneybird or e-Boekhouden
• Designed for larger businesses, so it can feel like overkill for a solo freelancer
• The interface is functional but not beautiful
• Setup takes more time compared to simpler options

Best for: DAFT entrepreneurs with more complex businesses — multiple products/services, higher transaction volumes, or plans to grow into a BV with employees. Probably overkill for a solo freelancer doing 10-20 invoices per month.

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FreshBooks

An international option popular with freelancers worldwide. Not built specifically for the Netherlands, but it can work.

Price: Starting at roughly 15-17 euros per month.

Pros:

• Beautiful, intuitive interface
• Excellent time tracking built in
• Great for international clients (multi-currency, multiple languages)
• Strong invoicing features with customizable templates
• Good mobile app

Cons:

• Not built for Dutch tax compliance — you need to manually configure BTW rates and invoice requirements
• No direct connection to Dutch banks
• Does not generate BTW return figures automatically
• Your Dutch accountant may not be familiar with it
• Missing KVK number fields by default (you need to add custom fields)

Best for: DAFT entrepreneurs who primarily work with international (non-Dutch) clients and are comfortable handling Dutch compliance manually or through their accountant. Not recommended as your sole accounting tool if you have Dutch clients.

Reality Check: Using international accounting software in the Netherlands is doable, but it creates extra work. Every quarter when you file your BTW return, you will need to manually calculate the figures that Dutch software generates automatically. Over time, this adds up.

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Other Options Worth Mentioning

Wave: Free accounting software. Decent for basics but lacks Dutch-specific features. No bank connections for Dutch banks.

Xero: Popular in the UK and Australia. Works in the Netherlands but similar limitations to FreshBooks — not built for Dutch compliance.

QuickBooks Online: Has a Dutch version now, which is an improvement. Still not as deeply integrated with Dutch tax systems as Moneybird or e-Boekhouden, but getting better.

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Our Recommendation

For most DAFT entrepreneurs running a sole proprietorship, Moneybird is the best starting point. It is affordable, available in English, built for Dutch compliance, and easy to learn.

If your accountant specifically requests e-Boekhouden or Exact Online, go with their preference. Working in software your accountant knows saves both of you time and reduces errors.

If you work primarily with international clients and already use FreshBooks, you can make it work — but consider running Moneybird alongside it for your Dutch administration and VAT reporting.

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Working With Your Accountant

Your choice of accounting software should align with your accountant's workflow. Before committing to a platform, ask your accountant these questions:

"Which software do you prefer?" Many Dutch accountants have strong preferences. If they work primarily with e-Boekhouden, using Moneybird means they need to adapt (or you need to export data in a specific format). Going with their preferred platform reduces friction and potentially reduces your accounting costs.

"Do you need direct access?" Most Dutch accounting software allows you to invite your accountant with a dedicated login. This means they can pull reports and review your records without you needing to send files back and forth.

"How should I categorize expenses?" Ask your accountant to set up your expense categories from the start. This ensures your bookkeeping aligns with how your tax return will be filed, saving time and preventing recategorization later.

If you do not yet have an accountant, check our guide on finding an expat-friendly tax accountant in the Netherlands. Having one from the start is worth the investment.

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Setting Up Your Software

Whichever tool you choose, here is what to configure on day one:

1. Enter your business details: Legal name, address, KVK number, BTW number
2. Connect your bank account: Set up automatic transaction imports
3. Create invoice templates: Make sure they include all required Dutch invoice fields
4. Set up BTW rates: 21% (standard), 9% (reduced), and 0% (exempt)
5. Create expense categories: Match them to Dutch tax deduction categories
6. Invite your accountant: Give them read access from the start

Spending an hour on setup now saves dozens of hours throughout the year. And when your accountant asks for "an overview of Q3 expenses," you can generate it in two clicks instead of digging through bank statements.

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We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.