Hospitality sector: a glossary

Alcoholvergunning - Alcohol licence

Permits issued by the municipality. There are 2 types of alcohol licences. One for serving alcohol to guests in your establishment. And another for selling alcohol to customers to take away. This is also known as the Alcoholwetvergunning (Alcohol Act permit).

APV

Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening, General Municipal By-Law (APV). The APV sets out municipal regulations on public order and safety. For example, rules about noise levels or placing rubbish bins on the street. 

Bestemmingsplan – Zoning plan

This has been replaced by the omgevingsplan (environment plan). Every municipality has an environment plan which, among other things, sets out what activities are allowed at what locations. For example, opening a cafe. 

Dark kitchen

A catering establishment where meals are prepared for home delivery.

Diploma Sociale Hygiëne – Social Hygiene diploma

You need this diploma if you are going to serve or sell alcohol.  

Drank- en horecavergunning – Licensing and catering permit

Municipal permit needed if customers eat or drink in your establishment. This has now been replaced by the Alcoholvergunning (alcohol permit).

Gebruiksmelding brandveiligheid - Notification of occupancy for fire-safe use

This notification to the municipality sets out how you will make your establishment fire safe. For example, with fire exits, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors.  

HACCP

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. Rules on preparing and storing food safely and hygienically. 

HACCP-plan HACCP plan

Also known as a voedselveiligheidsplan (food safety plan). The HACCP plan sets out how you will follow the HACCP rules. It is an analysis of the risks involved in your entire food production process and how you control these risks.

HACCP-registratieformulieren – HACCP registration forms

Forms you (or your staff) complete when checks have been done. For example, the temperature in your refrigerators. You can download these forms (PDF, in Dutch) from the website of the sector organisation for the hospitality industry, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, KHN.

Horecabranche – Hospitality branch

A specific sector of the hospitality industry. For example, restaurants, food trucks, or B&Bs.

Horecaconcept – Hospitality concept

The idea behind your hospitality business. It describes what your business looks like, what food and drink you offer, and what kind of experience you want to give your guests. The concept ensures that everything fits together, from the furnishings and menu to the atmosphere in your establishment.

Horecagebiedsadviseur - Hospitality area adviser

Contact person at the municipality for hospitality entrepreneurs. Large municipalities usually have several advisers, each with their own area.

Horecagebiedsplan - Hospitality area plan

A municipal plan setting out where hospitality establishments are allowed. This plan should ensure that hospitality establishments fit in well with the neighbourhood and that residents are not inconvenienced by them.

Horecaloket - Hospitality counter

A department at the municipality for hospitality entrepreneurs. You can get information about starting a catering business and apply for permits at the horecaloket.

Horecavergunning – Hospitality permit

A word covering all the permits and licences you need to start a hospitality business. 

Horecazaak – Hospitality business

A hotel, restaurant, café, or other catering establishment such as a food truck or takeaway stand.

Hygiënecode – Hygiene code

A hygiene code is a ready-made HACCP plan, describing how you can monitor food safety and hygiene. If you work according to the code, you meet the HACCP requirements. You can buy hygiene codes from branch organisations such as the Royal Dutch Hotel and Catering Association (Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, KHN).

Marktvergunning – market permit

You need a market permit from the municipality if you want to sell food from your food truck or a stall at a market. Selling at a fair or an annual market is allowed without a market permit.

Milieuvergunning – Environmental permit

If you start a catering business, you will have to deal with environmental regulations. There are rules concerning, for example, noise, energy, and waste. In some cases, you may need a permit. 

Muzieklicentie – Licence to play music

You need permission to play music at your hospitality establishment or event. You apply for a licence to play music from Buma/Stemra or Sena.

Nachtregister – Visitor register

In your visitor register, you keep track of who stays overnight at your B&B, hotel, or campsite. That way, the fire brigade knows how many people are present if a fire breaks out. You also need the visitor register to file your tourist tax return with the municipality.

NVWA

Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit, NVWA. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. This organisation checks whether you prepare and sell food according to the rules. You must register your catering business with the NVWA.

Omgevingsdienst - Environmental department

Issues licences on behalf of the municipality and checks that companies comply with the rules. Such as environmental rules.

Omgevingsloket

The omgevingsloket is an online service counter (in Dutch) where you can find information on the permits you need. You can also find which rules apply in a particular place, such as a festival site. Or rules for activities such as renovating a restaurant.

Omgevingsplan – Environment plan

Each municipality has an environment plan setting out what you are allowed to do in a certain place. For example, opening a hospitality establishment. This was formerly called a zoning plan. Some municipalities still use that term.

Ontheffing - Exemption

With an exemption, you do not have to follow certain rules. For example, if you want to stay open longer than the municipality allows, you can apply for an exemption from the municipality.

Pachten – To rent or lease

Someone else owns the company, but you run it. You pay the owner a fee to operate the business.

Precariorecht – Precario tax

A municipal tax you have to pay if you use a piece of land belonging to the municipality. For example, for a terrace, awning, billboard, or rubbish bin.

Register Sociale Hygiëne - Register of Social Hygiene

Before applying for an alcohol licence, you must register your Social Hygiene diploma with this register.

Schenkvergunning - Pouring licence

Another word for alcohol licence.

Standplaatsvergunning – Market trader’s licence 

A permit issued by the municipality. You need a market trader's licence if you want to trade from a stall or a food truck, on or along a public road.

Vergunning – Licence or permit

Official permission to do something, such as selling alcohol.

Voedselveiligheidsplan – Food safety plan

Also known as an HACCP plan. This plan sets out how you will follow the HACCP rules.

Warenwet - Commodities Act 

The Commodities Act sets out the rules for preparing and storing food safely. The NVWA is responsible for checking companies follow these rules.

Wet Bibob - Public Administration (Probity Screening) Act

Law to prevent criminals from abusing a hospitality licence. The Bibob Act states that the municipality may refuse or revoke a licence if they think it will be used for illegal activities. That is why the municipality investigates you and the people you know before issuing a licence.