Applying for an event licence

Examples of events include:

• store openings involving activities in a public road
• neighbourhood street parties, grill, or barbecue
• street fairs, flea markets, or fairs (indoor and outdoor)
• parades
• circus performances or funfairs
• helicopter landings or take-offs or parachute jumping
• flying a tethered balloon
• take-off of a hot-air or helium balloon
• exhibitions or theatre, cabaret, or musical performances

Rules for events

Events can cause nuisance. That is why there are rules to prevent or minimise nuisance for the surrounding areas. The rules that apply to events depend on the type of event and the location. For most events, the municipality determines which rules apply.

The municipality's rules can be found in:

• the environment plan
• the events bye-law
• the festivities regulation
• the General Municipal Bye-Law (APV)

These rules can also be found at lokaleregelgeving.nl (in Dutch) and on your municipality's website.

Applying for an event licence

For some events, you need an event permit (evenementenvergunning) from the municipality. Often, you only need to make a notification. To find out whether you need an event permit or make a notification, check your municipality's website.

Applying for an environment and planning permit

In addition to the event permit, you sometimes also need an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) from the municipality, water authority, province, or national government. For example, if your event:

• does not fit within the rules of the environment plan
• is in or near national waters
• is in or near a nature conservation area

When you apply for the event permit, the municipality will let you know what other permits you need. You can also do a permit check in the Environment and Planning Portal Omgevingsloket. The Omgevingsloket shows you which rules apply in your municipality, province, or water authority. And you can apply directly for an environment and planning permit.

Notification of festivities

Do you want to organise a party at your business premises, such as your shop or café? For example:

• An event around a public holiday such as King's Day, Liberation Day, or carnival (collective festivities).
• An open day, company party, or big screen at World Cup finals (occasional festivities).

If so, you may have to notify your municipality. You should always contact your municipality if you want to organise a festivity that exceeds the noise limits. You can then apply to the municipality for an exemption from the noise rules.

The rules for these types of festivities can be found in the festivities regulation, the general municipal by-law, or in the environment plan. The rules on festivities may be different in each municipality.

Events on provincial waterways

To hold an event on a provincial waterway, you may need a licence, exemption, or permission from the province.

Can shipping continue as normal during your event? Then a notification to, or permission from, your province is sufficient. Contact your province (in Dutch) for this.

Does your event require shipping to be temporarily blocked? For example, if you are organising a rowing event or parade. Then you need an environment and planning permit. You can apply for this via the Environment and Planning Portal Omgevingsloket (in Dutch).

Exemption from noise rules for sports motorbikes

Do sports motorbikes exceed the permitted noise level at your event or on a sports field? Then you have to apply to the provincial authorities for an exemption from the provincial authorities.

Online application procedure via Message Box

Message Box has not yet been linked to the Omgevingsloket. This means that you cannot apply for an event licence via Message Box. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.