The Flora and Fauna Act is the main hunting legislation for the Netherlands since april 1, 2002. According to this Act only 6 species are designated as ‘game’ (1protected and 5 huntable). These species are hare, mallard, pheasant, pigeon and rabbit. The new Act makes a difference between hunting (= wise use of the 5 game species) ,management (i.e. ungulates) and crop damage control. For management and crop damage control, separate licenses, issued by the provincial government are necessary.
Species Open seasons
Hare (lepus capensis) 15/10 – 31/12
Pheasant (phasianus colchicus) (female) 15/10 – 31/12
Pheasant (male) 15/10 – 31/01
Mallard (anas platyrhynchos) 15/08 – 31/01
Wood pigeon (columba palumbus) 15/10 – 31/01
Rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus) 15/08 – 31/01
The licence is mandatory and has to be renewed annually. Each year
approximately 30.000 licences are issued. This licence will be granted if the applicant:
- is 18 years of age
- has an insurance voucher (covering third party risk for a minimum of 907.560,43 euro)
- has passed an approved hunting examination (approved are the exams of the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg)
- is able to prove that he has an opportunity to hunt in the Netherlands. Hunting grounds must consist of an adjoining area of at least 40 ha., have a width of at least 300 meter and it must be possible to describe a circle with a radius of at least 150 meter in this area. In case of improper conduct it is possible to revoke the licence by judicial judgement. The right to hunt is automatically lost if the hunting licence has expired. In the Netherlands, hunters have a general obligation to maintain or create a reasonable stock of game. There are no bag limits.
The hunting rights belong to the landowner, who can let these rights for a period of 6 to 12 years. As far as territorial waters and State land are concerned, the hunting right also belongs to the owner (Ministry of Finance or Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries), who can let out these rights (lease). Hunting territories must satisfy the following criteria’s: Hunting grounds must consist of an adjoining area of at least 40 ha., have a width of at least 300 meter and it must be possible to describe a circle with a radius of at least 150 meter in this area.
There are no areas in which hunting is freely available to everyone. Commercial hunting is prohibited in the Netherlands.
The laws are the same for most of northern Europe, with some slight and regional differences.
Hunting licenses here typically take 18 months of school and hours equivalent to a A.A. degree.
Last edited by MudderChuck; 05-29-2017 at 08:33 AM.