Visitor register

In the visitor register you record:

• who is staying in your accommodation 
• when your guests are staying

This is important for emergency services, for example if a fire breaks out. You also need the visitor register to file your tourist tax return.

Request a visitor register from your municipal authority

The requirement to maintain a visitor register is laid down in the Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht). Furthermore, a visitor register is often required by the General Municipal By-Law (Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening). 

You can request a visitor register from some municipal authorities, or you can download the register from their website. You may also keep a visitor register in your own way. In that case, you must include the information required by the municipality, such as:

• the name and place of residence of the guest who made the booking (the main booker)
• the number of guests
• the arrival and departure dates (number of overnight stays)
• the type of identity document (ID) the guest presents 

Check with your municipality to find out what the requirements are for the visitor register. The municipality also determines how long you must keep the visitor register.

Do not make or keep copies of IDs

Throughout the European Union (EU) the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR or AVG) is in force. This privacy regulation states that you must have a valid reason (a legal obligation) to retain a copy of a passport. This means that you must not:

• temporarily keep your guests' identity documents
• copy your guests' identity documents
• store your guests' citizen servic numbers (BSN)

Requesting and submitting a digital visitor register via Message Box

You can also request a visitor register from the municipality via Message Box. And you can use Message Box to submit the data from the visitor register digitally. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you, as a business owner, to exchange messages digitally with Dutch government agencies.