If you want to cut down, move, or drastically prune one or more trees, in some municipalities you need an all-in-one permit for physical aspects (omgevingsvergunning) to do so. You apply for the permit to your local authority or via the online service counter all-in-one permit for physical aspects (OLO, in Dutch).
Applying for an all-in-one permit for felling trees
You will find the rules for felling, moving, or pruning trees in the General Municipal By-Law (Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening, APV). If you need an all-in-one permit for physical aspects depends on, for instance:
- the total number of trees you want to cut down, move, or prune
- the height or diameter of the tree
- the visibility of the tree from public roads
- how close the tree is located to your building
- if you comply with the obligatory reforestation rules
- how much of the tree you aim to prune
Do you want to cut down, move, or prune a monumental tree (in Dutch)? You must always have an all-in-one permit for physical aspects.
No felling during breeding season
In most cases it is not allowed to fell trees during breeding season, even if you do have an all-in-one permit for physical aspects. The breeding season lasts from 15 March until 15 July. During this period it is forbidden to deliberately disturb, destruct, or damage nests, birds, and their eggs.
