Professional & Legal Services

A crematorium permit (crematoriumvergunning) is a permit required for operating a crematorium in the Netherlands. The Funeral Services Act (Wet op de lijkbezorging) regulates the conditions under which a crematorium may operate.This permit is issued by the municipality and aims to ensure that the operation of a crematorium complies with legal requirements in the areas of spatial planning, environment, and respectful handling of the deceased. Applicants are typically organizations or legal entities that wish to establish or operate a crematorium.

Issued by: Municipality

A temporary rental permit (tijdelijke verhuurvergunning) is a municipal permit that enables owners of vacant residential space to rent it out temporarily without the tenant receiving all rights arising from rental protection provisions. This permit is regulated in the Vacancy Act (Leegstandwet) and is intended to prevent vacancy.With a temporary rental permit, you may rent out a dwelling or other residential space for a limited period. After the rental period expires, the landlord has more options to reclaim the property than with a regular rental agreement. The permit is issued by the municipality and is especially relevant for owners who have plans for the property but cannot yet implement them immediately.

Issued by: Municipality

A landlord's declaration (verhuurdersverklaring) is a temporary permit that allows owners to temporarily rent out a vacant property. This may be the case, for example, when the building is to be demolished or when the property is to be sold. Temporary rental prevents vacancy and provides flexibility for owners.The landlord's declaration is applied for with the municipality and is temporary in nature. The declaration enables the owner to rent out the property without violating the zoning or other regulations. The conditions and duration of the declaration are determined on a case-by-case basis by the municipality.

Issued by: Municipality

A rental permit (verhuurvergunning) is required to rent out a property in areas where purchase protection (opkoopbescherming) is in effect. Since 2022, municipalities have been able to designate neighborhoods where recently purchased homes may not be rented out without a permit. This prevents investors from buying up affordable housing stock at the expense of owner-occupiers.The rental permit is issued by the municipality and is based on Articles 39 to 45 of the Housing Act 2014 (Huisvestingswet 2014). The municipality sets conditions under which a property may be rented out, such as rental price limits and tenant selection criteria. Owners must demonstrate compliance with local housing regulations before the permit is granted.

Issued by: Municipality

If you want to convert a residential property to a commercial use, demolish it, merge it with another dwelling, or use it for short-stay lodging, you need a housing withdrawal permit (onttrekkingsvergunning) from the municipality. This applies to any change that removes a property from the housing stock.You apply at your municipality, which evaluates whether withdrawing the dwelling is justified given the local housing shortage. Some municipalities require a financial compensation to offset the loss of housing. Processing times and conditions vary by municipality, and applications are frequently denied in areas with high housing pressure.

Issued by: Municipality

A housing mediation license (woningbemiddelingsvergunning) is a municipal permit required for professionally mediating in the rental of residential property. If you operate as a rental agent, letting agency, or housing broker connecting tenants with landlords, you may need this license depending on your municipality.The license is based on municipal ordinances and aims to protect tenants from exploitative practices such as illegal mediation fees. The municipality assesses whether you meet requirements related to professional conduct, transparent fee structures, and fair dealing. Under Dutch law, a rental agent working for the landlord may not charge fees to the tenant. Municipalities with high housing pressure, such as Amsterdam and Groningen, actively enforce these licensing requirements.

Issued by: Municipality

A housing conversion permit (omzettingsvergunning) is required if you want to convert a self-contained dwelling into rooms for individual rental (onzelfstandige woonruimten), such as student rooms or shared housing. The permit is based on the local housing bylaw (huisvestingsverordening) under the Housing Act 2014 and applies in municipalities that have designated it as a requirement.The municipality assesses whether the conversion fits within local housing policy and whether it will cause unacceptable pressure on the livability of the neighborhood. Processing typically takes 8 weeks. The permit is person-specific and cannot be transferred.

Issued by: Municipality

A housing division permit (woonruimte splitsingsvergunning) is a permit required when you want to divide a dwelling into multiple housing units. Which specific permit you need depends on your plans. This permit is based on the Housing Act 2014 (Huisvestingswet 2014).The division permit is intended to maintain control over the division of housing and ensure the quality of dwellings. In addition to the division permit, you usually also need an environmental permit (omgevingsvergunning) for the physical modifications to the property.

Issued by: Municipality

If you have obtained a diploma or professional qualification in another EU country for a regulated profession, you can apply for recognition to work in that profession in the Netherlands. Regulated professions are professions that require a legal diploma or registration, such as doctor, nurse, architect or teacher.Recognition is regulated by the Algemene wet erkenning EU-beroepskwalificaties and implemented by various competent authorities, depending on the profession. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science coordinates the policy. The process involves assessment of your qualifications and may include a compensation measure such as an aptitude test or adaptation period.

Issued by: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

The EED energy audit is a mandatory energy audit for large enterprises under the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). This audit must be carried out at least once every four years and aims to provide insight into the company's energy consumption and identify opportunities for energy savings.Large enterprises are defined as companies with more than 250 employees, or with an annual turnover exceeding €50 million and a balance sheet total exceeding €43 million. The audit must be conducted by a certified energy expert and comply with the requirements of the Act implementing EU energy efficiency measures (Wet uitvoering EU-handelingen energie-efficiëntie).

Issued by: Netherlands Enterprise Agency

A patent (octrooi) is an exclusive right that protects an inventor against unauthorized use of their invention. By applying for a patent, you obtain the legal right to be the sole party that may produce, use, and sell your invention for up to twenty years. The patent system encourages innovation by giving inventors temporary market exclusivity.Patents are granted by Octrooicentrum Nederland, part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), under the Kingdom Patents Act 1995 (Rijksoctrooiwet 1995). You can also apply for a European patent through the European Patent Office. A patent allows you to license your invention to others or take legal action against infringement.

Issued by: Netherlands Patent Office (RVO)

A Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) is official proof that a person's criminal record does not present an obstacle for a specific role, task, or position. Employers, licensing authorities, and organizations commonly require a VOG before someone may start work or receive certain permits.The VOG is issued by Justis, the Screening Authority of the Ministry of Justice and Security. Justis reviews the applicant's judicial records and assesses whether any offences are relevant to the intended purpose. You can apply online via Justis or on paper through your municipality. Processing typically takes one to four weeks, and the certificate is issued for a specific purpose only.

Issued by: Justis (Screening Authority)