Do you have land near a water defence (dikes and embankments) or waterway (for example ditches and rivers) in the Netherlands? The Regional Water Authority by-law (keur, in Dutch) states what is and is not permitted. You can check which 'keur' applies to your region with your regional water authority (water board, in Dutch). You can check the 'keur' online in many cases.
The by-law affects you if you have land or want to carry out (construction) work in the vicinity of a water defence or waterway. The rules are more strict, the closer you are to a water defence or waterway. If you are the owner or user of land near a water defence or a waterway, you must cooperate in the maintenance.
This by-law will be incorporated in the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet). It will then be called water board regulation. This applies from the moment the Environment and Planning Act has entered into force.
Reporting activities
Th water board has general rules on activities near a water defence or waterway. If you comply with these rules, you have to notify the Regional Water Authority (in Dutch) of your activities. If you do not comply with these rules, you will need a water permit.
Damages due to water management activities
Do you suffer damages as a result of activities in water management? You can apply for compensation. You apply for compensation to the authority that carries out the work:
- the water board
- the province
- the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (if it concerns national waters)
Has compensation been denied and do you disagree with that decision? You can object to the decision with the authority to which you applied for the compensation.
Applying for compensation online via Message Box
At the province of Noord-Brabant you can apply for compensation for damages as a result of activities in water management via Message Box. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.
