The Atlas/Welfare, Law & Identification/Besluit houders van dieren
LawNetherlands
Besluit houders van dieren
Besluit houders van dieren · Wet dieren
The Dutch decree setting the operative rules for keeping dogs, from compulsory microchipping to a competence test for commercial keepers.
01 What It Is
The Besluit houders van dieren is the Dutch decree, made under the Animals Act (Wet dieren), that sets the practical rules for keeping animals, including companion dogs. It is the operative layer beneath the Act’s general duty of care.
02 What It Covers
It requires dogs to be identified by an injectable microchip and entered on a registration database, and obliges commercial keepers, those selling, supplying or breeding companion animals, to hold a recognized certificate of professional competence. Its breeding rules prohibit keeping or breeding animals in ways that harm the welfare of the parent animal or its offspring.
03 How It Is Checked
The decree is enforced by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) through inspection and administrative measures. The competence requirement is a documentary gate on commercial keeping rather than a one-off certification of the premises.
04 Why It Matters
It is the source of the everyday obligations that follow a Dutch dog through life, that it be traceable by chip, that whoever runs a kennel or breeding business has demonstrated competence, and that breeding cannot lawfully be pursued at the expense of the animals’ health.
Common Questions
Is it mandatory?
Yes. It is a binding Dutch decree under the Animals Act, the operative layer beneath the Act’s general duty of care.
Who enforces it?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the NVWA, through inspection and administrative measures.
What does it require?
Dogs must be identified by an injectable microchip and entered on a registration database. Commercial keepers must hold a recognized certificate of professional competence, and breeding that harms the welfare of the parent or offspring is prohibited.
How is the competence rule checked?
It is a documentary gate on commercial keeping: whoever sells, supplies or breeds companion animals must hold the certificate, rather than a one-off certification of the premises.
Who does it apply to?
Keepers of animals in the Netherlands, with extra duties on commercial keepers and breeders.
Why does it matter?
It is the source of the everyday obligations that follow a Dutch dog through life: that it be traceable by chip, that whoever runs a kennel has proven competence, and that breeding cannot lawfully be pursued at the expense of the animals’ health.
Primary sources
- Besluit houders van dieren, consolidated textwetten.overheid.nl