Licence under the Licencing and Catering Act

If you sell alcohol in your hotel/catering establishment, you need a licence under the Licencing and Catering Act (Drank- en horecavergunning). The licence is issued by the municipal authorities. Your hotel/catering establishment must fulfil a number of layout requirements. Requirements are also set on your staff. For example, managers must be at least 21 years of age and hold an SHV Statement of Social Hygiene (SVH Verklaring Sociale hygiëne) or a Statement of Professional Competence (Verklaring Vakbewaamheid). In addition, the municipal authority may ask you to complete a BIBOB form (which relates to the Public Administration (Probity Screening) Act (known as ‘BIBOB’ from the original Dutch name of the Act).

If your association or foundation sells liquor as a paracommercial hotel/catering establishment, you will also need a licence under the Licencing and Catering Act. If you only serve non-alcoholic beverages, you will need a food and drink permit in some municipalities.

Are there any changes to your hotel/catering establishment?

If there is a change in the management of your hotel/catering establishment, you must report this to the municipal authority. If there is a change in the legal form of your hotel/catering establishment, you must apply for a new licence under the Licencing and Catering Act. If the structure of the building housing your hotel/catering establishment changes in such a way that the description in your licence is no longer correct, you must report this change to the municipal authority within one month.

Dispensation from a licence under the Licensing and Catering Act

If you want to sell beer or wine at an event, you need a dispensation from a licence under the Licencing and Catering Act from the municipal authority. This dispensation is valid for a maximum continuous period of 12 days.