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Boating in the Netherlands: licences, speed limits and emergencies

Boating in the Netherlands means canals, lakes and coast with clear rules on licences, speed and alcohol. Liability insurance is not required by law, but ports and waterway managers may ask for it.

Emergency112UKW 16[11]

Alcohol limit0.5 ‰[9]

Liability covervoluntarymarinas often ask[7]

Licenceover 20 km/h or 15 m[1]

1 If your motorboat under 20 m can exceed 20 km/h or 2 your boat is longer than 15 m, 3 you need a Dutch boating licence, the vaarbewijs.

When you need a vaarbewijs

A Dutch boating licence (vaarbewijs) is required for boats over 15 m and for motorboats under 20 m that can exceed 20 km/h.[1]
Minimum ages: 18 for fast motorboats and jet skis, 16 for motorboats over 7 m up to 20 km/h, 12 for open motorboats under 7 m up to 13 km/h. There is no minimum age for sailing and rowing boats under 7 m.[2]
The Dutch Klein Vaarbewijs also counts as an ICC: level I for inland waters, level II for inland and coastal waters.[3]
The official list of recognised foreign licences was not available, so check recognition of your licence before you travel.

Liability insurance in the Netherlands

Boat liability insurance is not required by Dutch law, but marinas, boat storage sites, regatta organisers and some waterway managers can require it.[7]

Registration and Amsterdam vignette

Fast motorboats under 20 m that exceed 20 km/h must be registered with the RDW for almost all inland waters, with a visible number at least 150 mm high (100 mm on jet skis). Whether visiting foreign boats must register is not officially answered.[5]
Amsterdam charges pleasure boats that moor on or pass through city waters a vignette (Binnenhavengeld).[6]
According to ADAC, the transit vignette costs €45 for three years, mooring €18 for 6 hours and €34 for 24 hours.[4]

Papers on board

Fast motorboats must carry their RDW registration certificate while under way.[5]
According to ADAC, on a hired boat carry the owner’s authorisation and a copy of the registration; proof of EU VAT status is recommended.[4]

Equipment for fast boats

For fast motorboats, lifejackets for everyone on board and a kill cord are compulsory. When water skiing, an observer aged 15 or over must be on board.[8]
Boats of 2.5 to 24 m placed on the market since 1997 must meet the EU Recreational Craft Directive. No official general equipment list for slower boats was found.[1]

Alcohol, speed and distance from shore

The alcohol limit on the water is 0.5 per mille for leisure and commercial boating. Police may carry out breath tests, refusing is an offence, and serious cases can cost you your licence.[9]
According to ADAC, a limit of 0.2 applies to novices in their first five years and to anyone under 24.[4]
Speed limits for fast boats: 20 km/h nationwide except in signed fast zones (snelvaargebieden), and even there not within 20 m of the shore, near beaches and harbours, or in poor visibility. Fast boating at night is banned on all but a few waterways.[8]
On canals and smaller waters the limit is usually 6 or 9 km/h, and 6 km/h in harbours and towns. Signs on the waterway apply.[10]

Towing a boat trailer in the Netherlands

On Dutch motorways a car towing a trailer under 3,500 kg may do 90 km/h, with a heavier trailer 80 km/h. The European Commission gives 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 50 km/h in towns.[12][13]
Where a road has three or more lanes in each direction, rigs over 7 m long must use the two right-hand lanes.[13]
Dutch trailers over 750 kg need their own registration plate; the source does not say whether anything differs for foreign trailers.[14]

Emergencies on Dutch waters

In an emergency, call Den Helder Rescue on VHF channel 16 or DSC channel 70, or dial 112. Lifeboat stations are usually unmanned, so always alert the Coastguard or 112.[11]
Sources give different phone numbers for the Coastguard, so check the current one on kustwacht.nl before you go.

Speed limits change from one waterway to the next, so watch the signs along Dutch canals.

NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.

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