Fines in the Netherlands: what you need to know
In the Netherlands, you can receive a fine for breaking a rule. This can be a traffic fine, a fine from a supervising authority, or a criminal fine. The amount and type depend on the violation. Most fines are issued by and paid to the Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB). This article explains the most important rules.
Criminal offence categories
There are 6 categories of criminal offences in the Netherlands. The minimum fine that can be issued in 2026 is €3, and the maximum amount is €1,100,000. The category determines the maximum amount of the fine. The court will determine the exact amount of the fine. The amount of the fine depends on:
- the seriousness of the violation
- the circumstances
- personal factors, such as age or criminal record
The Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie) manages the Boetebase website. This is where you can read the maximum fines for specific offences, but it is only available in Dutch.
Categories of fines
Fines for minor offences (overtredingen) are a fixed amount. For instance, someone who travels by train without a ticket is fined €110. Or being caught driving 5 km/h over the speed limit results in a fine of €34. These fines are dealt with administratively. This means the court is not involved.
Administrative fines are given out directly by public authorities for violation of an administrative rule. For example, by municipalities or the Netherlands Tax Administration. These fines do not usually lead to a criminal record.
Criminal fines are issued by a judge for serious offences (misdrijven). These may lead to a criminal record.
Different types of violations and fines
In the Netherlands, various authorities and officials are authorised to hand out a fine.
Minor traffic offences, such as speeding or running a red light, are dealt with under administrative law. The court is not involved. You receive the fine from the Central Judicial Collection Agency (Centraal Justitieel Incasso Bureau, CJIB). Traffic fines are sent to the vehicle registration holder, not necessarily the person who was driving.
This type of fine is recognisable by the letter ‘M’ on the notice. This refers to the Mulder Act (Wet Mulder), which is the legal basis for handling minor traffic offences via administrative law.
The amount of a traffic fine depends on the offence. Fines are higher if the offence is more serious. Various authorities can issue these fines. For example, the police, special investigating officers (BOAs), the Public Prosecution Service, and customs officers.
The procedure for traffic fines is explained on CJIB.nl. Do you fail to pay the fine after 2 reminders? CJIB take further measures. These can include blocking new vehicle registrations, passing the case to a bailiff, or confiscating the driving licence. The possible measures to ensure that a fine gets paid are described on CJIB.nl in Dutch.
If you have received a traffic fine, you can check it in CJIB's online portal. You need to log in with DigiD. You can only log in to the portal on the Dutch website.
When you have staff, there are many rules to consider. The Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) can award fines for violations, such as:
- breaking salary rules, including insufficient wages, not paying holiday pay (on time), or not providing payslips
Read more about the Netherlands Labour Authority’s procedure for fines.
A government supervising authority (toezichthouder) may award an administrative fine if you do not follow certain rules. Inspectors may visit your company for an inspection to check if you comply with the law. Examples include:
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA): failure to report unsafe products or not cooperating during inspections
- Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure (RDI): not having a valid energy label when selling or renting a building, or not inspecting air‑conditioning systems
- Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP): violating privacy legislation (GDPR)
- Financial Markets Authority (AFM): can impose high administrative fines on financial institutions and accountancy organisations
Environmental fines
If you do not follow the rules for environmental protection, you can cause damage to nature, pollute water or soil, or pose risks to public health. This can lead to a fine. For example:
- driving in environmental zones or zero-emission zones with a vehicle that does not meet the conditions. Then the municipality will send you a fine. The penalty for trucks is higher than for cars.
- performing building activities without an environment and planning permit.
- discharging waste water into the sewer system without a permit
- soil contamination from leaking basins
- careless handling of waste
The amount of the fine is determined by how serious the environmental damage is, the size of the business, and whether it was intentional or not. You receive this fine from the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).
The Tax Administration may impose fines in the following situations:
- not requesting a tax return, or not requesting it in time
- not submitting your tax return, or not submitting it on time
- submitting an incorrect or incomplete tax return
- not paying your tax assessment, or paying it too late
Read more about filing tax returns.
False self-employment
The Tax Administration also enforces the Assessment of Employment Relationships Deregulation Act, often referred to as Wet DBA. You may receive a fine if it cannot be shown that a relationship between a client and a self‑employed professional is not an employment relationship. As well as an audit, you may also be charged retroactive payroll taxes, plus interest and penalties.
What if your employee incurs a fine while working?
In the case of fines incurred by an employee, such as traffic fines, the general rule is that the offender pays. If there were unclear instructions, instructions to break a rule, or force majeure, the employer pays the fine. It is possible to deduct the fine from the employee’s salary. But you must take into account the minimum wage and the ‘the protected earnings’ (beslagvrije voet). This is the part of your employee's wages that they are allowed to keep to live on and pay their fixed expenses.
The fine cannot be reimbursed tax-free. That is regarded as payment in kind and is subject to payroll taxes.
Receiving and paying a fine
Most organisations use the CJIB to handle their fines. There is usually also an administrative fee for this. The person or company receiving the fine must also pay the administrative fee.
Notice of the fine will be sent by post. Fines over €75 (excluding the administration fee) can be paid in instalments. Find out more about arranging payment instalments on CJIB.nl.
Keep in mind that you can also receive a fine via CJIB for violations committed in another European country. For example, a traffic violation in a neighbouring country.
How can you object to a fine?
If you disagree with an administrative fine, you can lodge an objection with the organisation that sent you the administrative fine. This is called ‘appealing the fine’. When you receive the fine from CJIB, it explains how, when, and where to lodge your objection.
Please note: in some situations, you must pay the fine, even if you object. If your objection is upheld, you will be paid back. In other situations, you must not pay the fine when you want to object. Always follow the instructions included in the notice.