It is important to know about the rules and regulations before buying or using a weapon in the Netherlands, to avoid running into trouble with the police. Here’s what you need to know about gun laws in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has strict gun laws compared to some other countries around the world. Anyone who wants to buy and operate a firearm will have to meet several conditions.
Generally speaking, guns are only legal in the Netherlands under strict conditions with a valid gun licence.
If found to be in possession of an illegal firearm, a person could face imprisonment of nine months to eight years and anywhere from 4.500 euros to 45.000 euros in fines. The exact penalty is determined by several factors and depends on the situation.
To own and transport a gun in the Netherlands, you need a permit. When applying for a gun licence with the chief of police in your police region, a person must be:
As with any other Dutch weapons licence, anyone wishing to own a gun will need to verify that they are trustworthy and mentally stable with a reasonable interest in owning a weapon before they get a permit, for example, working in the police force or defence. The applicant must also provide three references that the police can contact to confirm this.
The applicant also needs to prove that they can handle and store their weapon safely. A gun permit is valid for a year, after which it needs to be extended. If a person cannot prove that they have maintained their skills at a shooting sports association, the permit can be revoked.
Guns aren’t the only weapons that are strictly regulated in the Netherlands. Here's what the legislation looks like for different classes of weapons.
The Weapons and Ammunition Act is in place to combat the illegal possession of weapons, ammunition and guns in the Netherlands. Not only does it prohibit people from having weapons, but it also prevents people from entering or leaving the Netherlands with them.
Prohibited weapons are divided into four categories:
There are exceptions allowing the handling and use of a weapon, which require an individual to have one of the following licences:
For more information on the different types of licences, visit the government website.
Pepper spray is considered a weapon in the Netherlands (category II) and is therefore prohibited. Anyone found in possession of or using pepper spray will be prosecuted.
Tasers are classified as a category II weapon and are illegal to own and use. There are exceptions where you can apply for a licence to use tasers, for example, if you need a stun gun for your job to sedate animals.
There are two main categories of knives in the Netherlands: Category I knives are strictly prohibited, while Category IV knives can be owned but not carried in public without a valid reason. For instance, if you have just bought a kitchen knife from a supermarket to cook with and it is still in its packaging, you will not get into trouble.
However, if you have prohibited knives, such as automatic knives, butterfly knives, gravity knives, knives with blades longer than 28 centimetres, and so on, you could face penalties. It is also good to note that some Dutch cities, such as Amsterdam, have a general ban on all knives and further restrictions can apply during certain events.
According to data from 2019, there are 197.357 legal firearms registered in the Netherlands, the equivalent of 114 guns per 10.000 reisdents - the lowest figure measured since 2007. The majority of these firearms were licensed for sport shooting and hunting.
The number of licensed firearms in the Netherlands has been steadily dropping since 2012. According to GunViolence.EU, the decrease is mainly due to increased gun control in the country.
Gun ownership is so strictly regulated, there is not as much gun crime in the Netherlands compared with some other countries.
However, there have been a few mass shootings in the Netherlands, the most notable of which was the Alphen aan den Rijn shopping mall shooting in 2011, where 17 people were wounded and seven killed, including the shooter who turned the gun on himself after his attack. It was after this incident that the Netherlands tightened its rules around gun ownership.
Based on crime statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), crimes involving weapons including guns were 24% higher in 2024 than in 2014, with 7.300 incidents recorded by police in one year.
Even so, the Netherlands has one of the lowest homicide rates in Europe - the most recent figures from GunViolence.EU showed that fewer than 30 deaths occurred in 2016 from gunshots.
Before buying a gun in the Netherlands, make sure that you meet all the requirements and have the right permits. If you fail to comply with Dutch gun laws, you could face hefty penalties such as fines or jail time.
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