Information exchange regarding underground networks (Excavation Regulation)

Excavators who want to perform mechanical excavation work or have such work performed in the Netherlands are obliged to report their planned activities (‘KLIC notification’) to the Land Registry (Kadaster). You must first register with Kadaster before you can report your intention to perform excavation work. You will receive online cable and pipeline information from the network manager.

A tolerance regulation applies to excavation activities up to a depth of 50 centimetres carried out by farmers. In those cases, the notification requirement is not enforced.

Damage

You are obliged to carry out the excavation work (or have it carried out) in a careful manner. If a network is damaged during the excavation work, you must report the damage to the manager of the damaged network. You must notify the network manager and the National Telecoms Agency (Agentschap Telecom) if you find an underground cable or pipeline that is not on the map.

Excavation work on a provincial public road

If you intend to carry out excavation work on a provincial public road, you may have to apply for dispensation from the provincial authority as well as submitting notification of your intention to excavate.

Exemptions for agricultural businesses

Farmers do not have to submit a separate notification of their intention to perform excavation work each time they till their land. When performing excavation work down to a depth of 50 centimetres, you can use the information received when you first submitted a notification of your intention to perform excavation work. However, you are obliged to submit a separate notification of your intention to perform excavation work if you know that the circumstances underground have changed in the meantime.

Online procedure via Message Box

The notification of your intention to perform excavation work and the application for dispensation for excavation work on a provincial road can also be made online via Message Box.