Notification of excavation works (digging)

Do you want to excavate (dig) mechanically or have excavation works performed in the Netherlands? Then you must submit a notification to the Dutch Land Registry Office (Kadaster) and to the authorities via the Omgevingsloket.

Notifying excavation works to the Land Registry Office (Klic notification)

For a single notification, complete the Klic form for notifying excavation works (in Dutch). You have to submit the notification at the earliest 20 working days and at the latest 3 working days before the excavation work starts.

For multiple or regular notifications, you first need to register with the Dutch Land Registry Office (Kadaster, in Dutch). The next step is to register as an excavation contractor (grondroerder) and login to notify the planned excavation works.

The grid managers in the area where you will be excavating then send their cable and pipeline information to the Land Registry Office. You will receive this information from the Land Registry Office in several emails containing download links to zip files (leveringsmails). Do not start digging until you have received the cable and pipeline information from all grid managers. This way you will know where to dig without damaging cables and pipelines.

Reporting mechanical excavation work is mandatory under the Overhead and Underground Grids (Information Exchange) Act (WIBON or Earth-Moving Contractors' Regulations (Grondroerdersregeling)).

Notifying excavation works via the Omgevingsloket

Digging in the soil with machines is also covered by the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet). Before the work starts you often have to make a notification or submit information to the authorities via the Omgevingsloket (in Dutch). For example, a soil survey. The rules that apply depend on the amount of moved soil, where you are digging, and how contaminated the soil is.

Different rules apply if you want to dig in contaminated soil.

What do I do if I damage the grid?

Did you damage the grid (cables, pipes, etc.) during the excavation works? Then you must report the damage to the grid manager.

You must make sure the excavation work is carried out with the utmost care. You can find the guidelines on avoiding damage in CROW publication 500 'Avoiding damage to cables and pipes' (in Dutch).

Are you a grid manager? You have to report all damage to your grid to the Land Registry Office (in Dutch) each year in January. If your grid has not sustained damage you must still submit the notification form.

Differences between the situation and the drawing

Is excavation work taking place under your responsibility and did you come across several pipes (networks) that do not appear on the drawings that you have received? Or is a pipeline in a different place or not present at all? Then you must report this irregular situation (in Dutch) to the Land Registry Office. They will inform the relevant grid manager.

Farmers do not always have to notify

Farmers do not have to submit a separate notification for excavation works each time they till their land (in Dutch). For excavations up to a depth of 50 centimetres, farmers can use the information received when they first submitted a notification for excavation works.

Excavating works at or near a special location

You may want to excavate at or near a special location. For example, near a railway track, provincial road, or airport. At such locations, special rules apply. You also need to submit a notification or apply for an environment and planning permit to work there.

Check if you need an environment and planning permit and apply

Go to the online service counter Omgevingsloket (in Dutch) to check if you need an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning). In the Omgevingsloket you can see which rules apply in your municipality, province, or regional water authority. You can then use the Omgevingsloket to apply online for an environment and planning permit or submit a notification.

Online procedure via Message Box

Using Message Box you can submit the following notifications to the Land Registry Office (Kadaster) online:

• excavation notification by excavation contractors
• damage report by network operators
• notification of irregular situation

Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.