Essential Animal Information for the Netherlands

Below is information on:

Veterinarians

Most towns have at least one veterinarian practice (dierenarts) where there may be a 24 hour on-call service or an emergency veterinarian clinic (dieren spoedkliniek).

The Federatie Dierenambulances Nederland (FDN) is a network of animal ambulances, which can collect wild or domestic animals that cannot be moved safely by other means.

• Federatie Dierenambulances Nederland
  At: Andersteinweg 2, 3953 BA Maarsbergen
  Tel: 034 352 1751
  Fax: 034 351 6776
  e-mail
  Website
• To find a local ambulance service: Click here and select the region

Dieren Ambulance is a nationwide animal ambulance service with regional centres in Rotterdam and The Hague.

• Dieren Ambulance
  Tel: 0900 0245
  Website (in Dutch) 

Animal Welfare Association

The Dutch society for the protection of animals is the Dierenbescherming. The organisation protects and re-homes animals of all breeds: domestic, farm and wild mammals as well as birds, fish and reptiles. There are refuges across the country.

• To find a local Dierenbescherming: Click here (and select a town from the drop down menu)

Animal protection is not government funded and the Dierenbescherming makes its money from donations and the National Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij).

Owning a Dog or Cat

There is no licensing in the Netherlands however, all dogs are subject to a tax. Dog tax (Hondenbelasting) is charged annually and is calculated on the number of dogs in each household. The charge is set by the municipality and varies for the first and second dog and each subsequent animal.

It is the owner's responsibility to declare each dog to the municipality within 14 days of acquiring the it. The owner will need to present their National Identification Number.

Cats do not need to be declared to the authorities and they are not taxed.

Docking of a dog's tail or ears has been banned since 2001 under Dutch law.

Den Haag/The Hague

A new set of rules was implemented in May 2006 for dog owners.

• For a guide to the legislation: Click here
• The Hague Council produce a brochure in English with advice for looking after dogs in the area. To download the brochure: Click here (pdf)

Wassenaar

During the breeding season (1 March to 1 August), all dogs must be kept on a leash except in the designated free dog zones (losloopgebieden). Dogs must be on leash in De Wittenburg, de Wiltzanck , De Hartenkamp , Landgoed Backershagen and in the dune area. 

Within the municipal area, dogs must always be on leads in Rust en Vreugd, on the bike paths and the dune area of Meijendel.

Pets Lost and Found

Animal pound/refuge (dierenopvangcentrum/dierenasiel)

All vets, animal ambulances and animal refuges have a microchip reader. Take the found animal to any of these organisations and they will do what's required.

The Dutch Pet Database, Nederlandse Databank Gezelschapsdieren (NDG)

• Nederlandse Databank Gezelschapsdieren (NDG)
  At: De Molen 77, 3995 AW Houten
  Tel: 0900 404 0456 the NDG hotline
  e-mail
  Website

Europetnet operates a similar service throughout Europe. Pet owners need to register the animal's microchip number with the Europetnet database. This will allow for the missing animal to be traced from any member country in Europe.

• Europetnet
  At: Rue de la Presse 4, Drukpersstraat, Administrative & Head Office, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
  Tel: +32 (0)70 233 147
  Fax: +32 (0)70 233 181
  e-mail
  Website

Dangerous Dogs

There are restrictions as to what breed of dog can be owned in the Netherlands, this is due to the potentially dangerous nature of some breeds.

While the Pit bull and some dangerous cross-breeds are banned, certain other pure bred dogs are allowed but must be muzzled and leashed in public: Rottweiller, Argentinian Dogo, Brazilian Fila, Mastino Italiana, and American Staffordshire Terrier.

Pets on Public Transport

Guide dogs for the visually impaired can travel free of charge on all public transport.

• For information on Guide dogs in the Netherlands: Click here
• The Dutch Guide Dog Association: Click here (in Dutch)

Restrictions apply when taking a guide dog or assistance dog on long distance trains. A dog may be taken in a sleeper coach if an entire compartment is booked. 

• Further information from the NS: Click here (and scroll down the page)

Dog Fouling

The Dutch have fines in place for those who do not clear up after their dogs. Anyone walking a dog must be carrying a suitable item with which to "scoop the poop", failure to produce this will result in a fine. This may include:

• Paper bag
• Plastic bag
• scoop

Anyone caught not clearing their dog's mess will receive a fine.

Bags and equipment with which to clear up after a pet are available from pet shops, vets and municipal offices.

Dog Walking

Dogs are allowed on beaches except during the summer months, and there are some beaches that allow animals on leads then or in the early morning or late evening.

All mess should be cleared up in accordance with the law and the owner is responsible for the dog while it is on the beach. There are signs indicating how the dog should behave and whether it should be on a lead or not.

• For more information and examples of the signs: Click here

The ANWB publishes a guide (in Dutch) of specific dog walking areas and routes.

• For more information (in Dutch): Click here

Further Information

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Pet Travel and Moving with Animals

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