HKZ schemes by sector
HKZ is not one standard but more than 30 sector-specific schemes . Each scheme is a version of ISO 9001, supplemented with requirements for that specific care sector. You always certify against the scheme that matches your work. The standards are managed by NEN .
This page lists the best-known HKZ schemes, grouped by sector. Not sure which scheme fits? The generic standard HKZ 165 Care & Welfare or HKZ Small Organisations is often a good choice. You can read what the schemes have in common in the requirements of the standard.
How is an HKZ scheme structured?
Each scheme has two parts. This makes the schemes recognisable as a family.
- The care-specific part covers the primary process around the client: intake, treatment, records, safety, closing. This part differs per sector.
- The generic part covers your organisation as a whole: policy, people, resources, improvement. This part is equal to ISO 9001 and the same for all schemes.
A mental health care provider and a childcare centre therefore share the generic part, but have a different care-specific part. The requirements page explains this structure in more detail.
HKZ schemes by sector
Below are the most commonly used schemes with their standard numbers. The full, current list is always on hkz.nl .
Nursing, residential care and home care (VVT)
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 144 VVT | Nursing homes, residential care homes and home care |
| HKZ 155 Kraamzorg (maternity care) | Maternity care organisations |
| HKZ 146 Ambulancezorg (ambulance care) | Ambulance services |
A home care organisation that wants to take part in Wlz (Long-term Care Act) procurement often chooses HKZ 144. Since 2025, HKZ no longer requires a signed care agreement in writing.
Mental health care and welfare
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 129 GGZ (mental health care) | Basic and specialist mental health care |
| HKZ 138 Welzijn (welfare) | Social support and service provision |
| HKZ 139 Welzijn (welfare) | Social shelter and women’s shelters |
| HKZ 140 Welzijn (welfare) | Socio-cultural work and welfare for older people |
Disability care and youth care
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 118 Gehandicaptenzorg (disability care) | Residential, day care, outpatient |
| HKZ 142 Jeugdzorg (youth care) | Youth support, child protection, youth probation |
| HKZ 130 Justitiële jeugdinrichtingen (youth justice institutions) | Closed youth institutions |
As with VVT, since 2025 a written care agreement is no longer mandatory under HKZ 118 Gehandicaptenzorg .
Childcare
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 132 Kinderopvang (childcare) | Daycare and out-of-school care |
| HKZ 133 Gastouderbureaus (host family agencies) | Placement of childminders (gastouders) |
| HKZ 134 Peuterspeelzalen (playgroups) | Playgroup work for toddlers |
First-line and medical specialist care
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 104 Fysiotherapie (physiotherapy) | Physiotherapy practices |
| HKZ 136 Openbare apotheken (public pharmacies) | Pharmacies |
| HKZ 170 Mondzorg (dental care) | Dental and oral care practices |
| HKZ 128 Dialysecentra (dialysis centres) | Dialysis care |
| HKZ 135 Revalidatiezorg (rehabilitation care) | Medical specialist rehabilitation |
Client and patient safety
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 125 Cliënt-/patiëntveiligheid (client and patient safety) | General safety management |
| HKZ 126 Patiëntveiligheid (patient safety) | Hospitals |
| HKZ 147 Patiëntveiligheid (patient safety) | Endoscopy departments |
Self-employed care workers (zzp’ers)
| Scheme | For whom |
|---|---|
| HKZ 166 Zzp’ers (self-employed) | Nurses, care workers and support workers |
| HKZ 167 Zzp’ers (self-employed) | Professional organisers |
HKZ 165: the generic care standard
Does no specific scheme fit you, or do you offer several types of care? Then HKZ 165 Care & Welfare is often the right choice. This cross-sector standard applies to care and welfare organisations of any size and form.
The current edition is HKZ 165:2024+C1:2025 . The older HKZ 165:2018 version remains valid until 1 March 2027. In 2024, the theme of climate change was added, in line with the ISO amendments.
HKZ 165 is broad and cross-sector. NEN-EN 15224 is a comparable alternative that is recognised internationally, but it is less sector-specific. Read more about the choice on HKZ vs ISO 9001.