Sailing & Boating in Netherlands
The Dutch have one of the highest per capita ownership of boats in the world making sailing and boating in Netherlands popular activities for many. Find out how to register a boat in Holland, the Dutch license required to operate a watercraft and more…
With a 450-km North Sea coastline and numerous inland lakes, rivers and canals, it is not surprising that sailing and boating are popular leisure activities for the Dutch. 1 in every 32 people in the Netherlands owns a boat.
BOAT REGISTRATION IN HOLLAND
Before a motorboat, watercraft or jet ski (which can travel faster than 20 kph) can be operated on waterways in the Netherlands, it must be registered with the Dutch department of motor vehicles (RDW). If the watercraft is already registered in Germany, Belgium or the United Kingdom, it does not need to be re-registered in the Netherlands.
To register a boat the first time, the following will be required:
- Clear photo of hull and engine number
- Bouwjaar (construction year)
- Rompnummer (hull number, also known as WIN or CIN)
- Merk en type vaartuig (manufacturer and type of vessel)
- Kleur, naam en afmetingen vaartuig (color, name and dimensions of vessel)
- Merk en type motor en vermogen (manufacturer and type of engine, plus power level)
- Motornummer (engine number)
Log in to the secure registration part of the RDW website with DigiD, submit the details above, pay the registration fee with iDEAL. To transfer ownership of a boat already registered with the RDW, follow this link instead.
In order to register a boat to a business, a copy of the business extract from the KvK (chamber of commerce) issued within the past 12 months must be submitted.
If everything is in order, you will receive the registration certificate within 5 business days. From that point, the vessel is registered in your name.
NOTE: During the high season (May – September) processing times can be longer.
The registration must be carried when out boating.
MAKING CHANGES TO A BOAT REGISTRATION
Any changes to a watercraft must be documented in the boat’s registration. This is done online through the RDW website.
Have your registration certificate handy. If you do not have it, a replacement registration certificate must be requested before you can make a change to it. Log in to the RDW site with DigiD, fill in the requested information from your registration certificate, fill in change(s) you are requesting to the registration, submit the form and pay the relevant fee with iDEAL.
If everything is in order, you will receive the adjusted registration certificate within 5 business days.
Be aware, changes can only be requested for: engine details, vessel color, dimensions and type. Changes cannot be made to: hull number, construction year or manufacturer.
TERMINATION OF BOAT REGISTRATION
If the watercraft is disposed of, sold to someone in another country or sold to a person in the Netherlands who fails to register it under their own name, you must request to have the current registration terminated.
Log in with your DigiD, select the vessel you want to de-register and fill in details. You will receive an email confirmation that the vessel is no longer registered in your name.
There is no fee for stopping a registration.
LICENSES FOR BOATING IN NETHERLANDS
You do not need a license to operate a leisure boat or marine craft smaller than 15 meters on Dutch inland waterways unless it is equipped with a motor enabling it to travel faster than 20 kilometers per hour. A license is required for boats longer than 15 meters…
- A Dutch small-vessel sailing license (‘klein vaarbewijs‘), or the international equivalent, is required if the watercraft:
– is longer than 15 meters
– is shorter than 15 meters but capable of speeds in excess of 20 kph (includes jet skis)
– is used for commercial activities and between 15-20 meters in length - A Dutch large-vessel sailing license (‘groot pleziervaartbewijs‘), or the international equivalent, is required if the vessel is 25-40 meters in length.
Since 01 January 2020, CBR is the organization which handles boating license exams in Netherlands.
DUTCH BOATING SPEED LIMITS
Open waterways and large lakes, such as the Ijsselmeer, do not have set speed limits. Most smaller waterways and canals have speed limits ranging from 5-9 knots per hour.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Inland emergencies – Tel: 112
Sea emergencies – Tel: 0900 0111 (Dutch Coast Guard)
DUTCH SAILING ASSOCIATION
The KNWV (Royal Dutch Watersports Association) advocates for some 400 Dutch watersports clubs and its 80,000 registered members, establishes and maintains the national standards within each water sport, offers training for athletes at the top tier and sanctions sailing and boating competitions across the Netherlands.
On its website you can find:
The ANWB sells detailed maps of Netherlands waterways by region.
Related information…