Collective and Incidental Festivities

During special occasions, hospitality businesses in the Netherlands may produce more noise than normally allowed. This is regulated through collective and incidental festivities under the General Local Ordinance (APV) of each municipality. The rules allow temporary exemption from standard noise limits without requiring individual exemption applications.

Collective festivities are recurring events designated by the municipality, such as King's Day, New Year's Eve, carnival, or local town festivals. Incidental festivities are one-time events at a specific business, such as a grand opening, wedding reception, or anniversary celebration. Most municipalities allow a set number of incidental festivities per year. You must notify the municipality in advance, stating which dates you plan to use.