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Answers for Business: finding your way in Dutch rules, permits and subsidies

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Building regulations

If you want to build, make alterations to or renovate business premises in the Netherlands, your must comply with building regulations. The building regulations can be found in the Buildings Decree 2012 (Bouwbesluit 2012) and the building rules drawn up by your municipality. You must also comply with building regulations and layout requirements that are relevant to your business activities. Moreover, in most cases, you will need a building permit (All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects, omgevingsvergunning).

Buildings Decree 2012

The Buildings Decree 2012 contains the technical regulations that represent the minimum requirements for all structures in the Netherlands. You must comply with the 2012 Building Regulations when you will be refurbishing, building, demolishing or occupying a building. The requirements relate to safety, health, usability, energy efficiency and the environment.

On the Dutch-language website Verbouwkompas.nl you can check which statutory requirements apply to your renovation work (in the case of common types of renovation).

Municipal building rules

The municipal building rules relate to:

  • Urban planning;
  • Building on contaminated land;
  • Requirements regarding the external appearance of buildings.

Building rules can differ from one municipality to another. A lot of municipalities publish their building rules on the municipal website.

Read more about building requirements regarding:

Building requirements for catering establishments

The Establishment Design (Licensing and Catering Act) Decree (Besluit eisen inrichtingen Drank- en Horecawet) contains the requirements for catering establishments. The main requirements are:

  • the ceiling must be at least 2.4 metres high;
  • the surface area of at least one of the public rooms must be at least 35 m²;
  • there must be two completely separate and lockable toilets with hand-washing facilities in the immediate vicinity of each public room;
  • there must be a mechanical ventilation system which is connected directly to the open air outside the building;
  • there must be a fully functioning electricity supply;
  • proper drinking water facilities must be available;
  • the establishment must have a telephone.

In addition, rooms where goods are sold or rented out or services are provided must not be directly accessible via a room in which alcoholic beverages are present. Neither must these activities be organised in the catering area of the establishment.

The municipality, the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (nieuwe Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit, nVWA) and the police supervise compliance with the regulations specified in the Licensing and Catering Act permit.

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