Business Improvement District

In the Netherlands, the Business Improvement Districts (Experiments) Act has been in effect since 2009. Within the defined area of a business improvement district (Bedrijven Investeringszone, BIZ), business owners make joint investments in an appealing and safe commercial environment. Provided there is sufficient support, all of the business owners will be asked to contribute. To this end, the municipal authority imposes a levy and pays the proceeds to the association or foundation implementing the activities on behalf of the business owners. You can establish a BIZ up to 1 January 2012.

Activitities

The activities of a BIZ are meant to complement those of the municipal authority and include, for instance:

• improving traffic infrastructure;
• signage;
• green spaces;
• waste collection;
• lighting;
• cleaning;
• maintenance;
• fire safety;
• graffiti removal;
• increasing safety by means of measures such as additional surveillance, fences and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.