Retail & Shop

If you run a business from your home, such as a consultancy, hair salon, bed and breakfast, or therapeutic practice, you may need to notify your municipality. A home business (bedrijf aan huis) must preserve the residential character of the dwelling and only use a small portion of the property.Your municipality checks the local environmental plan (omgevingsplan) to determine if your activity is allowed. Factors like noise, parking pressure, and impact on neighbours are assessed. Some home businesses require only a notification, while others need a full permit. Contact your municipality or check the Omgevingsloket to find out what applies to your situation.

Issued by: Municipality

A business operation license (bedrijfsexploitatievergunning) is a municipal permit required for operating certain types of businesses, particularly hospitality establishments, night shops, and other businesses that may affect public order or cause nuisance. The license is issued under the General Local Ordinance (Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening, APV) of your municipality.The municipality assesses your application based on the type of business, its location, opening hours, and the potential impact on the surrounding area. Requirements vary by municipality, as each sets its own conditions regarding safety, hygiene, and nuisance prevention. You must obtain this license before you start operating, and it can be revoked if you violate the conditions.

Issued by: Municipality

A permit for services on or along public roads (dienstverlening op of aan de openbare weg vergunning) is required if you want to place objects on or along public roads. Examples include bouncy castles, construction containers, cranes, portable toilets, scaffolding, or construction cabins.This permit is issued by the municipality and is intended to ensure that the use of public space is safe and orderly. Entrepreneurs and individuals who wish to use public roads temporarily or structurally for services or construction activities must apply for this permit.

Issued by: Municipality

A market serving permit (marktbedienvergunning) is required for persons who serve stalls or assist in the sale of goods at a municipal market. This permit is intended to ensure that market attendants meet municipal requirements and maintain order at the market.The permit is issued by the municipality and is often mandatory for employees of market traders who act independently, such as occupying a stall, supervising sales, or trading goods. The rules may vary by municipality, but are often laid down in the municipal market regulation.

Issued by: Municipality

Market fees (marktgelden) are municipal charges imposed on market traders who occupy a stall at a municipal market site. This levy is based on Article 229 of the Municipalities Act and serves to cover the costs of managing and maintaining the market.The amount of market fees varies by municipality and depends on factors such as the size of the stall (in linear meters), the type of stall (fixed or temporary), and the frequency (per day, week, or quarter). Market traders receive an invoice with the amount due, the payment term, and the payment method.

Issued by: Municipality

A market permit (marktvergunning) grants the right to occupy a stall and sell goods at a municipal weekly market or other market. The permit is issued by the municipality and is based on the municipal market regulation.Market permits can be granted for a fixed stall (annual permit) or for temporary stalls (day permit). Conditions relate to the type of goods that may be sold, the location, the layout of the stall, and compliance with hygiene and safety regulations. Additional conditions and rules may apply for vending activities outside the market.

Issued by: Municipality

The secondhand goods dealer register (opkopersregister) is a mandatory registration for anyone who trades in secondhand goods or clearance lots as a business. If you buy used items for resale, such as electronics, furniture, bicycles, jewelry, or clothing, you must notify the municipality and keep detailed records of your purchases.Your register must include the seller identity, a description of each item, the date and price of purchase, and any serial numbers. This obligation helps the police trace stolen property and prevent fencing. The municipality maintains an overview of all registered dealers. Non-compliance can result in fines or closure of your business.

Issued by: Municipality

An exemption from the secondhand goods dealer register (opkopersregister-vrijstelling) allows certain traders to be relieved from the full registration obligation. The municipality can grant this exemption when the administrative burden of maintaining the complete register is disproportionate to the nature of your trade.The exemption may apply to specific categories of goods, such as bulk textile lots or low-value clearance items, where the risk of stolen goods is minimal. You must apply to the municipality and explain why the standard registration requirements are not proportional for your situation. The exemption may come with alternative, lighter record-keeping requirements.

Issued by: Municipality

Precarium tax (precariobelasting, also called precariorechten) is a municipal tax levied when you use public land for commercial purposes. If you place a terrace, market stall, advertising sign, construction container, or other objects on municipal ground, the municipality may charge you this tax based on Article 228 of the Municipalities Act (Gemeentewet).The tax amount depends on the surface area you occupy, the duration, and the location. Rates are set annually by each municipality and vary widely. Busy city center locations typically carry higher rates than quieter areas. Some municipalities have abolished precarium tax entirely, while others actively use it as a revenue source. You receive an annual assessment that you can contest if you disagree with the calculation.

Issued by: Municipality

Advertising tax (reclamebelasting) is a municipal levy that must be paid by owners or users of commercial premises on which advertising objects are visible from the public road. This includes letters, symbols, colors, light boxes, billboards, flags and banners used to draw attention to a business, product or service.The tax is levied by municipalities in designated areas, often city centers and approach areas. The obligation applies to all visible advertising objects on or attached to the premises, regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent.

Issued by: Municipality

A market stall trading hours exemption (standplaats markttijden ontheffing) allows market traders to occupy their stall outside regular market hours. You may need this exemption if you require extra time for setting up large displays, dismantling equipment, or operating during special events that extend beyond normal market times.The municipality grants this exemption based on the local market regulation (marktverordening). Your application must explain why the standard hours are insufficient. Conditions may include restrictions on noise during early morning or late evening setup, traffic management, and coordination with other market traders. The exemption is typically granted for a specific period or event.

Issued by: Municipality

A street vending permit (standplaatsvergunning) is required for occupying a pitch on public roads to sell goods, offer services, or advertise. This applies to both permanent pitches (longer than one month) and temporary pitches (up to a maximum of one month).The permit is issued by the municipality where the pitch is located. Through local regulations (Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening, APV), the municipality determines where and under what conditions pitches are permitted. The permit prevents nuisance and ensures public order and safety.

Issued by: Municipality

A street vending exemption (ventontheffing) is an exemption required when you wish to sell goods or services on the street or door-to-door outside permitted hours. By default, you may peddle from Monday to Saturday between 09:00 and 17:00. For peddling at other times or on Sundays, you need a vending exemption.The exemption is granted by the municipality and is based on Article 5:15 of the Model General Local By-law (Model Algemene plaatselijke verordening, APV). The exemption applies to the sale of goods or services door-to-door or on the street, with specific conditions applying to times and locations.

Issued by: Municipality

A street vending permit (ventvergunning) is a permit required for street trading or offering products or services door-to-door. The permit regulates where, when, and what you may sell while peddling. You must submit the application at least eight weeks before you start vending.The street vending permit is issued by the municipality and is based on municipal ordinances. With a vending permit, you may not occupy a fixed pitch; a separate pitch permit (standplaatsvergunning) is required for this. In some areas, such as the center of Drachten, peddling is not permitted. For the sale of food items, you must comply with the requirements of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

Issued by: Municipality

A shop opening hours exemption (winkeltijdenontheffing) is a permit that allows you to keep your shop open longer than the permitted opening hours on a one-time basis. This exemption is granted under the Shop Opening Hours Act (Winkeltijdenwet), which regulates the times when shops may be open.The exemption is intended for business owners who wish to open their shop outside regular hours on special occasions. The municipality processes your application within 8 weeks. You can apply for the exemption digitally using eHerkenning (digital authentication system).

Issued by: Municipality

A cultural goods import permit (cultuurgoederen invoervergunning) is a permit required for importing cultural goods into the European Union. This permit or importer declaration must be requested to ensure that the import of art, antiques, and archaeological objects complies with EU regulations.The permit is issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and is intended to combat illegal trade in cultural goods. Importers of cultural goods are required to apply for this permit before bringing goods into the EU.

Issued by: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

A cultural goods export permit (cultuurgoederen uitvoervergunning) is a permit required for exporting certain cultural goods from the Netherlands. Art, antiques, and archaeological objects may not leave the country in some cases without this permit.The permit is issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science based on the Heritage Act (Erfgoedwet). The purpose is to protect valuable Dutch cultural heritage against uncontrolled export. Art dealers, collectors, and other persons who wish to export cultural goods must apply for this permit.

Issued by: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

If your business imports timber or timber products into the EU market, you must comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which replaces the former EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). This means you need to exercise due diligence to verify that the wood you sell was legally harvested and not linked to deforestation. The obligation applies to the first placement on the EU market, so it mainly affects importers and primary suppliers.You must maintain records of your suppliers and buyers, and implement a due diligence system that includes risk assessment and risk mitigation. Enforcement of the EUDR has been postponed to December 30, 2026 for large operators and June 30, 2027 for micro and small enterprises. The NVWA enforces these rules and can carry out inspections. When importing timber, you also need to meet phytosanitary requirements.

Issued by: Ministry of Economic Affairs