All-in-one permit for environmental regulations for businesses

All companies in the Netherlands have to deal with environmental regulations. There are rules concerning such issues as noise, energy, waste, air and soil quality. In some case you will need to notify or apply for a permit.

The Dutch Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) determines which notifications and permits are necessary. This depends on the classification of your company: type A, B, or C. You can look up how business are classified in article 1.2 of the Activities Decree (in Dutch).

Type A: your company has no or negligible impact on the environment

Does your company have negligible or even no impact on the environment (light regime)? You must comply with the general rules of the Activities Decree. You do not need to submit an environmental management notification or to apply for an all-in-one permit for physical aspects (omgevingsvergunning). This applies for instance to office-based firms, banks, various care institutions, GP practices, and playgroups.

Type B: your company’s environmental impact is substantial

Does your company have a substantial impact on the environment? You are subject to the Activities Decree. You must notify the municipal authority of your commercial activities. You must submit a notification when you set up, change, or expand your business. This applies to various activities, such as waste water management, agricultural activities, some industrial processes, transport, storage, and transfer of goods.

Joint notification and permit application

If might be that you not only have to notify the authorities about your business's substantial environmental impact, but also need to apply for an all-in-one permit for physical aspects, for instance with regard to building. In that case you are required to submit both notification and licence application simultaneously.

Type C: your company’s environmental impact is extensive

Is your company’s impact on the environment extensive? You will need an all-in-one permit for physical aspects. You can obtain this permit from your municipal or provincial authority through the service counter all-in-one permit for physical aspects (Omgevingsloket Online, OLO, in Dutch). If your business is subject to the European Industrial Emissions Directive (successor to the IPPC Directive), you also need this permit.

Changes to your permit

Do circumstances with regard to your company or your company's management change? And do these changes affect the information in your All-in-one permit for Physical aspects? You need to apply for a modification of your permit. Does the environmental impact of your company stay within the limits set by the original permit? In general the normal procedure for this modification applies. This means you will receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks.

Activities Decree online module

The Activities Decree online module (Activiteitenbesluit Internet Module, AIM) helps you in determining which rules apply to your company. You can also submit the environmental management notification via AIM. Please note that this module is in Dutch only. For more information, contact your municipal authority (in Dutch).

Industrial odour emission

If you submit an environmental management notification or an application for an integrated environmental permit, the municipal or provincial authorities will take into account the extent of odour nuisance caused by your business. In controlling odour nuisance, you must use the best available technology (BAT). You can consult the Dutch-language Odour guide for industry to help you determine acceptable levels of odour nuisance.

Agricultural and greenhouse sector

Do you plan to start a commercial greenhouse business? Or do you want to extend or change your business, for instance plant different crops or rent out your land? Or do you want to change the amount of any discharges? You will have to notify your water board through the Activities Decree online module. If you want to know which Activities Decree regulations apply to your agricultural sector, your agricultural activities or to a specific environmental theme, please find an overview of these regulations on InfoMil Knowledge Centre's website (in Dutch).

Online application procedure via Message Box

You can submit the notification of environmental management also online via Message Box. At the province of Noord-Brabant, you can use Message Box to apply for an All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.