HKZ certification bodies
HKZ does not certify organisations itself. The quality mark is issued by independent, accredited certification bodies (CBs). These CBs are supervised by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) and must have a contract with HKZ before they may use the mark. NEN manages the standards. The CB checks whether your organisation meets them.
This distinction matters. The HKZ mark on your certificate is only valid if the CB that issued it is accredited for your specific scheme.
Who may issue HKZ certificates?
Only CBs with a valid contract with HKZ and RvA accreditation for the relevant scheme may issue the mark. NEN and HKZ set the standards. The CB assesses independently.
The RvA checks whether the CB carries out its work reliably. This way, a client who sees your certificate knows that the audit process meets strict requirements.
Which certification bodies are there?
These are the best-known CBs for HKZ. Note that not every CB is accredited for every scheme. Always check hkz.nl/over-hkz/certificerende-instellingen to see which CBs are available for your scheme.
| Certification body | Website |
|---|---|
| Kiwa | kiwa.com |
| DEKRA | dekra.nl |
| DNV | dnv.nl |
| TÜV | tuv.nl |
| Lloyd’s Register | lr.org/nl |
| Keurmerkinstituut | keurmerkinstituut.nl |
| CIIO | ciio.nl |
| Brand Compliance | brandcompliance.nl |
Not every CB is accredited for every HKZ scheme. Check on hkz.nl whether your CB has a contract for the scheme that matches your sector. A CB that is not accredited cannot issue a valid HKZ certificate.
What should you look for when choosing?
Four criteria help you make a good choice.
1. Accreditation for your scheme. This is the first filter. If the CB is not accredited for your sector scheme, nothing else matters.
2. Experience in your sector. An auditor with experience in mental health care (GGZ) understands the context better than someone who has only done industrial audits. Ask about this in the first conversation.
3. Price. The fees for the certification audit and the annual surveillance audits differ per CB. Ask at least three CBs for a quote. See costs and timeline for the expected cost level.
4. Approach and fit. You will work with the CB for at least three years. A good working relationship and a clear way of working both count.
What is accreditation (RvA)?
Accreditation is the official recognition that a CB carries out its work reliably. The Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) is the Dutch body that checks this. It regularly assesses whether the CB meets the international requirements for certification.
When you see an HKZ certificate, this tells you two things: HKZ and NEN have set the standard, and the audit was carried out by a body that meets international quality requirements.
This does not change the audit itself. For credibility with care insurers, municipalities and clients, however, it is the basis of trust in the mark.