Rules for shelters for protected animals

Do you want to take in protected animals that are injured, ill, unwanted, or weak? If so, you will need permission from the provincial authorities or the Dutch government. Your animal shelter must also meet certain conditions.

For which animals do you need permission to shelter

You need permission to shelter:

• protected native animal species: protected animals that occur naturally in the Netherlands, such as hedgehogs, deer, hares, or blackbirds
• marine mammals, such as seals, porpoises, and dolphins
• protected exotic animal species: protected animals that are not native to the Netherlands, such as parakeets or snakes
• invasive exotic animal species: animals that are not native to the Netherlands and pose a threat to Dutch nature, such as, red-eared sliders or raccoons

You can use the species database (in Dutch) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature (LVVN) to check if an animal is protected. And to check if the animal is on the list of invasive exotic species (in Dutch).

Requirements for animal shelters

You can only apply for permission if your shelter is a foundation or association and you meet the following conditions:

• You must keep a register of every animal or group of animals in your care. You must include certain information (in Dutch), such as the scientific species name, date of acquisition or birth, origin and destination, gender, the animal’s identification number (such as tattoo, chip or ring number), and a description of its distinctive external characteristics.
• Do you shelter marine mammals or exotic animal species? Then your shelter must comply with specific rules for animal care, which include rules about food, hygiene, and registration (in Dutch)
• Do you shelter invasive exotic species? Then your shelter must also comply with additional rules for animal care (in Dutch), including specific rules about food, hygiene, and registration. You must also ensure that these invasive exotic species do not return to the wild.

Read the conditions for sheltering exotic animal species, invasive exotic species, and marine mammals (in Dutch). For more information on sheltering native protected animals or on sheltering other animal species, contact your province (in Dutch)

Where to apply for permission?

Where you apply for permission depends on the type of animal you are sheltering:

• For native animal species and marine mammals, you apply for permission to your province. You can do this via the Environment and Planning Portal (Omgevingsloket, in Dutch). If the province gives permission, you will get an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) for sheltering animals. This is called an environment and planning permit for flora and fauna activities (in Dutch)
• For exotic animal species and invasive exotic species, you apply for permission to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). RVO will give this permission in the form of a situation-specific regulation (maatwerkvoorschrift) for sheltering the animals.