Do you want to install an onshore wind turbine in the Netherlands? You must have permission from your municipal authority. Wind turbines are also subject to general rules for the protection of the environment and the surroundings.
Permits for wind turbines
If you are going to install wind turbines, this must fit the zoning plan. You will also need a permit or file a report.
1 or 2 wind turbines
If you want to install 1 or 2 wind turbines, you must submit an environmental management notification (notification Activities Decree, in Dutch) to your municipality.
3 or more wind turbines
Do you intend to install 3 or more wind turbines, for instance to start, or as part of, a windfarm? You need a permit. You either need an
- All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects with limited environmental assessment (omgevingsvergunning beperkte milieutoets, OBM, in Dutch), or an
- All-in-one permit for environmental regulations for businesses. Which of these permits you need depends on the number of wind turbines and whether you need an environmental impact assessment (milieueffectrapport, MER). This is up to your municipality.
Do you need to (have) a MER drawn up? Then you must apply for an All-in-one permit for environmental regulations for businesses via the online service counter all-in-one permit for physical aspects (Omgevingsloket online, OLO, in Dutch).
Other permits
In some cases, you will also need a water permit, a permit and/or an exemption under the Nature Conservation Act. You should ask your municipality what applies in your circumstances.
Safety and nuisance of wind turbines
You must keep to the rules for wind turbines. It depends on the number of wind turbines you want to install which rules you must follow.
1 or 2 wind turbines
In order to install 1 or 2 wind turbines, you must keep to the rules in the Activities Decree and the Activities Regulations. These specify among others noise regulations and safety requirements, such as:
- you must have the safety of the wind turbine assessed at least once a year
- you must perform an acoustic survey and limit the cast shadow of the turbine blades
3 or more wind turbines
To install 3 or more wind turbines, your municipality or province will decide with which rules you need to comply.
You can find more information in Dutch on Infomil’s website. You can contact the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, in Dutch) to find out exactly which permits apply.
