Applying for a liquor licence

In order to sell beverages with a high alcohol content for consumption off your premises (off-licence), you need a liquor licence. You can obtain this licence from the municipal authorities, costs vary per municipality. Your shop must comply with the furnishings requirements laid down in the Establishments Layout Requirements (Licensing and Catering Act) Decree (Besluit eisen inrichtingen Drank- en Horecawet).

Your management must meet certain requirements as well: managers must be at least 21 years of age and must hold an SHV Certificate for Social Hygiene (SVH Verklaring Sociale Hygiëne, in Dutch) or a Certificate for Professional Competence (Verklaring Vakbewaamheid). Please contact SVH for more information about the various documents.

Changes to your off-licence

If your off-licence shop changes to such an extent that it no longer fits the description in your liquor licence, you must have the licence modified or apply for a new one.

Sample tasting

Your customers are allowed - at their request - to taste a free sample of an alcoholic beverage in your off-licence shop. However, this is only allowed when offered by a member of your staff, not for instance by a promotional team.