Municipality Amsterdam: Applying for an event licence

Large events with more than 2 000 visitors must be notified 16 weeks in advance. Smaller events must be notified 8 to 14 weeks in advance.

You do not need a permit in the following situations:

• there are fewer than 100 attendees at the busiest time.
• the event is outdoors and will last no more than 1 day.
• the event is between 09.00 and 23.00.
• the event is not taking place on roads.
• the event will not disrupt traffic or shipping.
• the noise level will not exceed 75 dB(C) on the façades of dwellings in the immediate proximity of the event.
• you place a maximum of 2 small objects with a surface area of less than 10 m2 per object, such as a bouncy castle or a barbecue.
• you do not sell items, food or alcohol.
• you do not use animals at your event.
• you do not advertise in order to attract visitors/spectators, and you do not sell admission tickets.
• the event is not at a marketplace or on a market day.

When a permit is required:

• the event is a large gathering, such as a festival, celebration, show or jumble sale.
• it may be attended by more than 250 people.
• the event may take place in several places at the same time.
• the event is on or next to a public road.
• the event makes it necessary to close a road.
• the event may disrupt the emergency services, such as the police or ambulances, for example due to a road closure.
• you expect noise nuisance.
• there will be music after 22.00 on a Sunday to Thursday, or after 23.00 on a Friday or Saturday.
• you are installing large objects such as tents, bouncy castles, bars or toilets.

The permit check (vergunningscheck, in Dutch) will show you which documents you need to submit.

Permit check

Carry out the permit check (in Dutch).

The amount that you have to pay depends on the type of event that you are organising.

• less than 250 visitors or participants  € 272.20
• up to 250 visitors or participants but less than 500 € 1,141.10
• 500- 2000 visitors or participants € 2,282.10
• 2,000 - 5,000 visitors or participants  € 8,226.00
• 5,000 - 10,000 visitors or participants € 13,709.90
• 10,000 or more visitors or participants € 18,279.80
• Street closureFor 1 to 3 days: € 267.80For 1 week: €349.30For each subsequent week: €116.50For 4 months: €1,164.30
• reserverd parking spaces: cost de­pends on the num­ber of par­king spa­ces
• exemption from serving alcohol € 347.20

You will be notified within 8 to 10 weeks. The municipality may extend this notice period once.