Permits for events
Great that you are considering hosting an event or party! It is wise to read up in advance about whether or not you need to apply for a municipal permit.Especially for larger events, it is necessary to apply for a permit from your municipalities. For smaller events, a notification to the municipalities is often sufficient.
Do I need to obtain a permit for my party or event?
We will discuss the permits that you are most likely to encounter when organizing an event. Because permits vary regionally, we will not go into details. You can always inquire with the municipality or city where your event will take place.
You can often find all the details surrounding permits on your municipality's website.
Private party
You may always organize a private garden party. If you plan to play music you must apply for an exemption for the reproduction of sound. In this exemption you discuss at what volume and until what time the music may be played. Of course it is wise to always inform your neighborhood in advance about possible noise pollution.
Neighborhood party organization
If you are organizing a neighborhood party or a free-for-all, you may need a permit. If you plan to play music, you will need to apply for an exemption for the reproduction of sound. In this document you can discuss at what volume and until what time the music may be played. Of course it is wise to always inform your neighborhood in advance about possible noise pollution.
A neighborhood party is permit-free when;
- A maximum of 100 people present at any one time.
- It does not take more than one day.
- It takes place between 9:00-23:00.
- It is not held on the roadway.
- It does not interfere with vehicular traffic or shipping.
- No amplified music will be performed after 23:00.
- The noise level on the facades of the nearest house does not exceed 70 dB(A).
- You do not sell food, alcoholic beverages or other goods.
- You are not advertising to attract outside interested parties.
- The event is incidental (one-time).
For outdoor events you must always apply for a permit for each event. When you organize an event in a temporary canopy such as a marquee for more than 50 people you must apply to the fire department for a temporary use permit. When applying, the fire department will ask for a fire certificate. These fire certificates belong to the specific tent you rent from us and we can of course provide them.
Event organization
You can report small and simple outdoor events to the municipality free of charge. You must do this at least two weeks before your event is to take place.
When you organize an event in a place accessible to the public, you need to apply for a permit. The permit holder is usually the one who organizes the event, most likely you. The permit holder is responsible for the safety of the participants and visitors to the event. The municipality therefore sometimes requires an event permit to ensure that the event and its preparations are carried out in a responsible manner. The permit describes all the measures that the organization of the event must take to ensure public order, health and (fire) safety.
It also describes how any incidents should be resolved. In doing so, the municipality often requires a safety plan, script and risk analysis.
But in some cases a notification of a small event is also sufficient. It is advisable to check with the municipality where you plan to hold the event.
What is the cost of a permit?
The cost of a permit application depends entirely on the possible risks the event carries. The municipality therefore classifies events in different risk classes (A,B and C). You can fill these in via a Risk Analysis. This is often listed on the website of the relevant municipality with the corresponding fees.
Amplified Sound
When organizing a commercial event, it is wise to check whether you need to pay royalties on the music through Sabam (BE) or Buma (NL). When you play amplified sound at your event you will most likely also need a noise permit. This is an environmental permit and limits the number of decibels at which the music may be played.
Sometimes it is also not mandatory to apply for an environmental permit. So this is good to check with your municipality.
Tents, stages or scaffolding at your event?
To place any of these materials, you must request permission from the municipality. You must provide a plan with the application showing the tent and its dimensions,certificates and emergency exits/ evacuation routes. The municipality will ask the local fire department to inspect the site and the structures and declare them safe.
We can, of course, provide you with this information when the municipality requests it.
Attractions or bouncy castles at your event?
When you apply for an event permit, the municipality sometimes asks you to show the attractions on a map. For this you also need the dimensions and sometimes (when asked for) a certificate or RAS number.
Safety Certificates
What does a certificate and RAS number mean? To rent out an attraction, a safety certificate must have been issued by a Dutch company.
This ensures that the attraction meets all safety requirements that an attraction in the Netherlands must meet. It is therefore always important that you rent from a reliable partner. Unfortunately there are also many untested attractions and bouncy castles that are sold and rented in the Netherlands. These do not meet the requirements of the Act on attractions and playground equipment and may therefore be unsafe. Often the mention of approval is on the back of the attraction. Here are data including the inspection authority on it.
RAS number
In short, devices for relaxation and amusement in which people are moved by mechanical energy are considered attraction devices by the Attractions and Playgrounds Decree. Think of a bungee trampoline where the elastic bands are put under tension by the motor, a rodeo bull, a merry-go-round, roller coaster, etc. An attraction rental company receives a unique RAS number for these attractions.
Depending on the complexity, this equipment must be inspected annually, bi-annually, or tri-annually by an inspection body appointed by the Minister. During this periodic inspection the AKI will check whether the equipment has ever been put into service or has been type-tested.
When a municipality asks for the delivery of a RAS Number we have to deliver this. If the number (and thus the inspection of the attraction) expires, the attraction may not be used during the event.
When you apply for an event permit and you need a certificate or RAS number for the relevant attraction or bouncy castle you can of course apply for this with us.
Nutrition at the event
There are strict requirements for the preparation of food. It is important to ask the caterer or operator of a food stand if they have the necessary license.
As indicated, the requirements from the municipality differ around applications for permits. No rights can be derived from this information. We always recommend requesting information about events on the website of the local municipality.
