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Applying for a planning permit for activities near water

Do you want to build a shed near water? Or construct a jetty? Then you may need an omgevingsvergunning voor een wateractiviteit – watervergunning (planning permit for activities near water). In some cases a permit is not required and a notification is sufficient. Or you must apply for an exemption.

Where you need to apply to for a permit for activities near water depends on where you are going to carry out your activity:

  • Are you going to carry out activities in or near a ditch, stream, pond, dyke or road managed by a local water authority? If so, you must apply for a permit from your local water authority.
  • Are you going to carry out activities at a highway, viaduct, tunnel, bridge, waterway or dyke  that is managed by a province? Then you must apply for a permit or exemption from the province.
  • Do you want to carry out an activity in or near a large river or lake, such as the Rhine, the Meuse or the IJsselmeer? Then you must apply for a permit from Rijkswaterstaat (executive agency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management).

If you are not sure where you need to apply for a permit, contact the municipality where you intend to carry out your activity.

You may also need other permits for activities that you intend to carry out under other laws or regulations. One example is an omgevingsvergunning (planning permit). You can obtain information about this from the relevant municipality.

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:
Informatie:

Here is some information from your water authority.

Applying for an environmental permit for a water activity from water authority Rivierenland

Water activities for which you need a permit include: 

  • (re)building a shed on a dike or near water;
  • planting vegetation or putting up a fence or fencing along water;
  • constructing a jetty, revetment or sheet piling in or along water;
  • laying cables or pipes near a dike, a pumping station or a lock;
  • constructing a dam with a culvert in water;
  • constructing a bridge over water;
  • laying hard surfaces larger than 4 000 m2 in rural areas;
  • laying hard surfaces larger than 1 500 m2 in urban areas;
  • digging, filling in or relocating a ditch or canal, for example;
  • adding harmful substances to water;
  • removing water from, for example, a ditch or pond;
  • removing water from the ground;
  • changing the water level;
  • holding an event near a dike or water.

Doing a permit check

Would you like to know quickly whether you need a permit or are required to submit a notification? Then start by doing the permit check. You need DigiD to do this. Do you not have a DigiD yet? Information about this can be found at DigiD abroad | Netherlands Worldwide.

Requesting a preliminary consultation

Would you like to know quickly whether you need a permit or are required to submit a notification? Or does the permit check show that you need an environmental permit for a water activity? If so, contact us to make an appointment for a preliminary consultation. In the preliminary consultation, an expert will discuss the following with you, for example:

  • what information you need to send with your application;
  • the restrictions and conditions that apply to the location and the desired activities;
  • how we assess your application.

This information will help you apply for the permit.

You can contact water authority Rivierenland by e-mail via Vergunningen@wsrl.nl.

Consent of other owners

Is the plot in respect of which you are applying for the permit (partly) owned by someone else? Then will you need the (co-)owner to consent to your activities.
Is that (co-)owner water authority Rivierenland? If so, contact us by sending an e-mail to Vergunningen@wsrl.nl.

You must always submit the following information when applying for an environmental permit for a water activity:

  • name, address and telephone number of the initiator;
  • the address of the location where the activities will be carried out;
  • consent of the (co-)owner of the land, including plot number(s), name, address and signature of the (co-)owner;
  • a description of the reason why the activities are to be carried out;
  • a clear site plan showing the location of the activities;
  • a description of the activities to be carried out;
  • whether and how the surrounding area is affected by the preparation of the initiative and its possible outcome;
  • the expected start date of the activities;
  • the expected duration of the activities.

What further information you need to submit depends on what you are planning. We can tell you more about this during the preliminary consultation\.

You can find more information on the Omgevingsloket online (Online environment portal – available only in Dutch). To log in to the online Omgevingsloket, you need a DigiD. Do you not have a DigiD yet? Information about this can be found at DigiD abroad | Netherlands Worldwide.

You can do the following on the government’s  Omgevingsloket online (Online environment portal – available only in Dutch):

  • check whether you need an environmental permit for a water activity;
  • apply for an environmental permit for a water activity;
  • submit a notification.

You must always sign the application; if you don’t, we will not be able to process it. To log in to the online Omgevingsloket and sign your application, you need a DigiD. Do you not have a DigiD yet? Information about this can be found at DigiD abroad | Netherlands Worldwide.

Exactly what you have to pay for applying for an environmental permit for a water activity depends on the activities that you will be carrying out. These costs are referred to as ‘fees’.

Information can be found on Lokale regelgeving (local regulations) | Overheid.nl (available only in Dutch).

You do not have to pay any fees for the processing of notifications.

As soon as we receive your application, we will send you confirmation of receipt. This will tell you when we will decide on your application.

We will process your application within 8 weeks. If we need more time, we will let you know within that period.

If information is missing from your application, we will ask for additional information within 4 weeks. The statutory time limit for taking a decision temporarily ceases to run and starts then starts to run again on the day the requested information is received.

Have you submitted a complex application? This might include, for example, an application for an activity posing a high risk for the surrounding area? Or involving many interested parties? If so, we will take a decision within 6 months. We can extend that period once by 6 weeks. In such a case, you will receive a separate notification.

If you submit a notification, you will usually hear from us within 4 workdays.

Do you disagree with a decision of the water authority and are an interested party? Then you can lodge an objection in many cases. You can do so by writing a letter to the water board. We refer to this as an objection letter.

You are an interested party if your water-related interests are directly affected by the decision.

When is the latest you can lodge an objection?

Your objection must reach us within 6 weeks of the date the permit was sent.

What must be stated in the notice of objection?

In any case, the objection letter must state:

  • your name, address and telephone number
  • the date on which you are sending the objection letter
  • a description or copy of the decision to which you are objecting
  • what your objection is and why you are making it
  • your signature

How do you submit an objection letter?

You can submit your objection letter online or by post.

Do you want to submit your objection letter online?

You can submit your objection letter via our online form Objection (available in Dutch only). To submit your objection online, you need a DigiD. Do you not have a DigiD yet? Information about this can be found at DigiD abroad | Netherlands Worldwide.

Would you prefer to submit your objection letter in writing?

Write your objection in a letter and send it to Het college van dijkgraaf en heemraden van Waterschap Rivierenland, attn. Secretariaat van de adviescommissie Awb, P.O. Box 599, 4000 AN Tiel, The Netherlands.

What happens after you send your objection letter?

You will receive a confirmation of receipt as soon as possible. This will explain exactly how your objection will be handled and when you can expect a decision.

We will consider the best way to handle your objection. The secretary of the advisory committee may put you in touch with the employee concerned so that you can find a solution together. If this is successful, the arrangements will be recorded and no further handling of the objection will be necessary. If it is not possible to find a solution, the objection will be referred to the advisory committee.

What if you do not agree with our decision regarding your objection?

Then you can appeal to the court. Our letter to you with our decision contains instructions how to do so. You do pay a court fee for appeal to the court. You can find the amount on Costs | NCC | The Dutch judiciary (rechtspraak.nl).

Costs

You do not have to pay a fee to submit a notice of objection.

If so, contact us by sending an e-mail to Vergunningen@wsrl.nl.

Questions about this topic?

Contact Waterschap Rivierenland

Visiting address

De Blomboogerd 1

4003BX Tiel

Opening hours
Monday
08.00 - 17.00
Tuesday
08.00 - 17.00
Wednesday
08.00 - 17.00
Thursday
08.00 - 17.00
Friday
08.00 - 17.00
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Last updated on 23 January 2024