Pets in the Netherlands

Expats who decide to relocate their pets to the Netherlands or simply get a new pet are highly advised to plan ahead to make sure they understand the rules and their responsibilities as the owner of a dog, cat or other animal. This page outlines some important points every pet owner should keep in mind.

Pet insurance

There are different types of insurance for pets in the Netherlands. Some cover veterinary treatments while others also pay out when the pet is lost or stolen. Some recommended pet insurance companies in the Netherlands include:

• PetSecur
• OHRA
• inshared

Pet passport (EU dierenpaspoort)

Travelling pet owners will need a pet passport in order to bring their pets to the Netherlands. The pet passport is designed to last for the animal's whole life and contains the following information:

• Name of the owner.
• Vet confirmation about the rabies certificate. All pets should be vaccinated at least 21 days prior to the departure date and the date of vaccination must be clearly stated.
• Microchip number. The electronic microchip (transponder) or readable tattoo (applied before July 3, 2011) connects the pet to the passport.
• Other information about the pet, such as its sex, age, breed, colour, type of fur and its markings.

If a pet passport is not available, owners are required to presented a completed veterinary certificate (in Dutch). This certificate is valid for four months or until the expiration date of the vaccination. Pets might be vaccinated upon entering the Netherlands and remain in quarantine for 30 days. 

In general, it's worth planning ahead, as the paperwork and required vaccinations can sometimes take as long as nine months to complete. 

Note that the above applies to cats, dogs and ferrets. For other animals (except for rabbits, fish and hares) a health certificate from a recognised vet in the country of departure should be presented.

Pet passport for EU and other countries

The pet passport is used for pets travelling between EU member states and:

• Andorra
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Monaco
• Norway
• San Marino
• Switzerland
• Vatican City State

Finally, the pet passport is valid if you are travelling to or from:

• Greenland and the Faroe Islands (Danish pet passport)
• French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion (French pet passport)
• Canary Islands (Spanish pet passport)
• Azores and Madeira (Portuguese pet passport)
• Gibraltar (specific Gibraltar pet passport, not the UK pet passport)

Pet owners who travel from or to other countries should visit EUROPA - Animal Health & Welfare for more information.

Health & Welfare of Animals Act

According to the MinEL&I, the Dutch government has legislated for animal care under the Health and Welfare of Animals Act, which bans:

• Causing unnecessary pain or injury to animals.
• Harming animal health or welfare.
• Refraining from providing animal care.
• Separating animals from their parents until a certain age.
• Performing surgery on animals, unless permitted by law or order in council.

Useful facts about pets in the Netherlands

• Most cities in the Netherlands charge an annual dog tax (hondenbelasting). This tax is calculated on the number of dogs in each household and it is set by the local municipality.
• Dogs must be registered with the local town hall (Gemeente) and the municipal tax office (Gemeentelijke Belastingdienst) upon arrival.
• Registration and taxation procedures apply only to dogs, not cats. These apply to non-commercial movement of pets to the Netherlands.
• All dog owners have to declare their dogs to the municipality within the first 14 days.
• Guide dogs for the visually impaired travel free of charge on all public transport.
• Dog owners must clear up after their animals. Fines apply.
• Apart from in the summer months, dogs are allowed on beaches.

Useful links about pets in the Netherlands

• Federatie Dierenambulances Nederland (FDN): Ambulances for domestic animals in the Netherlands.
• Dieren Ambulance: Animal ambulance service in the Netherlands.
• Dierenbescherming: The Dutch society for the protection of animals.
• Dierenkliniek Vondelpark
• Nederlandse Databank Gezelschapsdieren (NDG): The Dutch Pet Database traces the owners of animals with microchip. 
• Europetnet: Pet owners have to register the animal’s microchip number so that it can be traced from any EU member country.

Other useful sources for pet owners

• Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
• Royal Netherlands Veterinary (KNMvD)