Permit for work in areas with scenic or cultural-historic value

Published by:
Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO
Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO

Do you want to carry out construction work in an area of special value? For example, do you want to build roads, dig or drain ditches, plant or cut down trees, or raise or excavate soil in such an area? If so, you often need an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) for work in areas with scenic, archaeological, or cultural-historic value.

Your work must not harm the landscape, archaeological or cultural-historic value of the area. The work must also fit in with the municipality’s environment plan (omgevingsplan). Consider, for example, work on:

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. 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.

Cultural heritage in the environment plan

Would you like to know whether the location where you want to carry out work is a cultural heritage site, a world heritage site, or a scenic or cultural-historic site? Then check the municipality's environment plan (formerly the zoning plan). In the environment plan, the municipality describes what rules it has for working in or near cultural heritage. These rules may differ in each municipality.

National rules from the Environmental Decree on Activities (Bal) apply to national monuments and world heritage sites.