Zoo Licence
Do you want to keep wild animals and show them to the public in the Netherlands? You must ensure good care and housing for the animals. You will need a licence to run a zoo. You apply for a zoo licence (in Dutch) to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. This also applies to for instance:
- butterfly gardens
- bird parks
- petting zoos with protected species
- nature information/visitors centres
When is a zoo licence mandatory?
A zoo licence is mandatory (in Dutch) if you:
- keep protected animal species
- keep more than 10 species of wild animals
- care for or shelter protected and/or wild animals for longer than 12 months
- show these animals to the public at least 7 days per year
You must meet certain requirements (in Dutch) regarding housing, animal care, registration of animals, and, working methods to get a zoo licence. Specific conditions for supplying information to the public apply as well. You apply for a zoo licence to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, in Dutch).
Online application procedure via Message Box
You can also apply for a zoo licence to RVO via Message Box. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.