# Dutch — Permitting and Environmental Law Sub-Lexicon

Maps Dutch (Netherlands and Belgium/Flanders) environmental and permitting
vocabulary to correct English equivalents. Covers EIA, the Dutch Omgevingswet
and Flemish Omgevingsvergunning, water, waste, nature (including the stikstof
crisis), chemicals, contaminated land, climate, and construction/zoning.

## Regulatory Framework — Netherlands

| Dutch (NL) | English |
|---|---|
| Omgevingswet | Environment and Planning Act |
| Omgevingsbesluit | Environment and Planning Decree |
| Besluit activiteiten leefomgeving (Bal) | Activities in the Living Environment Decree |
| Besluit kwaliteit leefomgeving (Bkl) | Environmental Quality Decree |
| Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl) | Buildings in the Living Environment Decree |
| Wet milieubeheer (Wm, pre-Omgevingswet) | Environmental Management Act (legacy) |
| Wet algemene bepalingen omgevingsrecht (Wabo, pre-Omgevingswet) | General Provisions of Environmental Law Act (legacy) |
| Waterwet | Water Act |
| Wet natuurbescherming (Wnb, pre-Omgevingswet) | Nature Conservation Act (legacy) |
| Wet bodembescherming | Soil Protection Act |
| Klimaatwet | Climate Act |
| Wet open overheid (Woo) / Wob | Open Government Act |
| REACH / CLP | REACH / CLP Regulation |

## Regulatory Framework — Belgium/Flanders

| Dutch (BE) | English |
|---|---|
| Decreet Algemene Bepalingen Milieubeleid (DABM) | General Provisions of Environmental Policy Decree |
| Vlaams Reglement voor de Milieuvergunning (legacy) | Flemish Environmental Permit Regulation (legacy) |
| Decreet Omgevingsvergunning | Environmental Permit Decree |
| VLAREM I / II / III | VLAREM I / II / III Regulations |
| VLAREMA (materialen) | VLAREMA Waste/Materials Regulation |
| VLAREBO (bodem) | VLAREBO Soil Regulation |
| Vlaamse Codex Ruimtelijke Ordening (VCRO) | Flemish Spatial Planning Code |
| Bodemdecreet | Soil Decree |
| Materialendecreet | Materials Decree |

## Regulators and Institutions

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat | Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management |
| Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) | Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management |
| Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT) | Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate |
| provincie — Gedeputeerde Staten (GS) | province — provincial executive |
| omgevingsdienst / regionale uitvoeringsdienst (RUD) | environmental service / regional implementation service |
| waterschap / hoogheemraadschap | water board |
| Autoriteit Nucleaire Veiligheid en Stralingsbescherming (ANVS) | Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority |
| Bevoegd gezag | competent authority |
| Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM, BE) | Flemish Environment Agency |
| OVAM (BE) | Flemish Public Waste Agency |
| Departement Omgeving (BE) | Environment Department (Flanders) |
| Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (ANB, BE) | Agency for Nature and Forests |

## Environmental Impact Assessment (MER)

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| milieueffectrapport (MER) | environmental impact report |
| milieueffectrapportage | environmental impact assessment (process) |
| milieueffectbeoordeling (MEB, BE) | environmental impact assessment (BE) |
| plan-MER / project-MER | plan-EIA / project-EIA |
| passende beoordeling (Natura 2000) | appropriate assessment |
| mer-beoordeling | EIA screening |
| notitie reikwijdte en detailniveau | notice on scope and detail |
| Commissie voor de milieueffectrapportage | Netherlands EIA Commission |
| publieke zienswijze | public consultation input |
| milderende en compenserende maatregelen | mitigation and compensation measures |
| milieumonitoring | environmental monitoring |

## Integrated Permit (Omgevingsvergunning)

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| omgevingsvergunning | environmental permit (integrated) |
| omgevingsplan | environment plan (municipal) |
| meldingsplichtig / vergunningplichtig | notification / permit required |
| ingrijpende activiteit | substantial activity |
| maatwerkvoorschrift | bespoke prescription |
| gelijkwaardigheidsbeoordeling | equivalency assessment |
| beste beschikbare technieken (BBT) | best available techniques (BAT) |
| BBT-conclusies | BAT conclusions |
| emissiegrenswaarden | emission limit values |
| BBT-IER (industriële emissies) | IED installation |
| Seveso-inrichting (hogere / lagere drempel) | Seveso establishment (upper / lower tier) |
| veiligheidsrapport (VR) | safety report |
| intern / extern noodplan | internal / external emergency plan |
| reguliere / uitgebreide procedure | regular / extended procedure |

## Water Law

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Kaderrichtlijn Water (KRW) | Water Framework Directive |
| stroomgebiedbeheerplan (SGBP) | river basin management plan |
| waterlichaam | water body |
| ecologische / chemische toestand | ecological / chemical status |
| watervergunning | water permit |
| lozing in oppervlaktewater | discharge to surface water |
| lozing in riolering | discharge to sewer |
| onttrekking grondwater | groundwater abstraction |
| rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie (RWZI) | wastewater treatment plant |
| nitraatgevoelige gebieden | nitrate-vulnerable zones |
| overstromingsrisicobeheerplan | flood-risk management plan |
| waterschapsbelasting | water-board levy |

## Waste and Circular Economy

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| afval / afvalstof | waste |
| gevaarlijk / niet-gevaarlijk afval | hazardous / non-hazardous waste |
| bedrijfsafval / huishoudelijk afval | commercial / household waste |
| afvalhiërarchie (Ladder van Lansink) | waste hierarchy (Lansink ladder) |
| preventie | prevention |
| voorbereiding voor hergebruik | preparation for re-use |
| recycling | recycling |
| nuttige toepassing (energetisch) | recovery (energy) |
| verwijdering | disposal |
| einde-afvalstatus | end-of-waste status |
| bijproduct | by-product |
| uitgebreide producentenverantwoordelijkheid (UPV) | extended producer responsibility |
| AVI (afvalverbrandingsinstallatie) | waste incinerator |
| stortplaats | landfill |
| afvalstoffenregister | waste register |
| LAP3 (landelijk afvalbeheerplan) | national waste management plan |
| EVOA-vergunning (grensoverschrijdend afvaltransport) | Waste Shipment Regulation permit |

## Nature and Biodiversity

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Natura 2000-gebied | Natura 2000 site |
| vogelrichtlijngebied | birds-directive SPA |
| habitatrichtlijngebied | habitats-directive SAC |
| Natuurnetwerk Nederland (NNN) | National Ecological Network |
| beschermd natuurmonument | protected natural monument |
| soortenbescherming | species protection |
| ontheffing soortenbescherming | species-protection exemption |
| CITES | CITES |
| invasieve uitheemse soorten | invasive alien species |
| Programma Aanpak Stikstof (PAS) | Nitrogen Approach Programme |
| stikstofdepositie | nitrogen deposition |
| KDW (kritische depositiewaarde) | critical deposition value |
| AERIUS-berekening | AERIUS calculation |
| extern salderen | external netting |
| intern salderen | internal netting |
| stikstofruimte | nitrogen headroom |
| significant effect | significant effect |

## Chemicals and Biocides

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| REACH | REACH |
| stoffenregistratie | substance registration |
| zeer zorgwekkende stoffen (ZZS) | substances of very high concern |
| veiligheidsinformatieblad (VIB) | safety data sheet |
| CLP | CLP |
| biocidenverordening (528/2012) | Biocidal Products Regulation |
| POP-stoffen | persistent organic pollutants |

## Contaminated Land and Environmental Liability

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| bodemverontreiniging | soil contamination |
| geval van ernstige bodemverontreiniging | case of serious soil contamination |
| saneringsdoelstelling | remediation objective |
| nulsituatie-onderzoek | baseline soil investigation |
| verkennend / nader bodemonderzoek | exploratory / in-depth soil investigation |
| sanering | remediation |
| saneringsplan | remediation plan |
| saneringsevaluatie | remediation evaluation |
| gebruiksbeperking | use restriction |
| zorgplicht (art. 13 Wbb) | duty of care |
| vervuiler-betaalt-beginsel | polluter-pays principle |
| historische verontreiniging | historic contamination |
| richtlijn milieuaansprakelijkheid (Uschb) | ELD implementation |

## Climate and Air

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| EU-ETS | EU ETS |
| emissierechten | emission allowances |
| broeikasgasemissievergunning | greenhouse-gas emissions permit |
| CBAM | Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism |
| Fit for 55 | Fit for 55 |
| klimaatneutraliteit | climate neutrality |
| Klimaatakkoord | Climate Agreement |
| Nationaal Klimaat- en Energieakkoord / INEK | National Energy and Climate Plan |
| CO2-heffing industrie | industrial CO2 levy |
| Urgenda-arrest | Urgenda ruling |
| luchtkwaliteitsplan | air-quality plan |
| schone lucht akkoord (SLA) | Clean Air Agreement |

## Construction, Planning and Zoning

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| omgevingsvergunning voor bouwen | building permit |
| omgevingsvergunning voor afwijken | zoning-deviation permit |
| omgevingsvergunning voor kappen / slopen | felling / demolition permit |
| omgevingsplan (gemeentelijk, onder Omgevingswet) | municipal environment plan |
| bestemmingsplan (pre-Omgevingswet) | zoning plan (legacy) |
| structuurvisie | structural vision |
| Projectbesluit | project decision |
| Rijksinpassingsplan / provinciaal inpassingsplan | national / provincial integration plan |
| nationaal milieubeleidsplan / NOVI | national environment and spatial policy plan |
| rijksmonument / gemeentelijk monument | national / municipal monument |
| onteigening | expropriation |
| gebruiksmelding | use notification |

## Enforcement and Procedure

| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| toezicht en handhaving | supervision and enforcement |
| last onder dwangsom | penalty payment order |
| last onder bestuursdwang | administrative enforcement order |
| bestuurlijke boete | administrative fine |
| strafrechtelijke handhaving (Economische Delicten — WED) | criminal enforcement (Economic Offences Act) |
| bezwaar / beroep | objection / appeal |
| Raad van State — Afdeling bestuursrechtspraak | Council of State — Administrative Jurisdiction Division |
| relativiteitsvereiste | relativity requirement |
| Verdrag van Aarhus | Aarhus Convention |
| Uniforme openbare voorbereidingsprocedure (uov) | uniform public preparation procedure |

## Notes

- **Omgevingswet (in force 1 January 2024)**: Consolidates 26 statutes and
  over 100 implementing instruments into a single statute. Four principal
  implementing decrees: Bal (activities), Bbl (buildings), Bkl (quality
  standards), Omgevingsbesluit (general). One permit (omgevingsvergunning),
  one municipal plan (omgevingsplan). Replaces Wabo, Wm, Ww 2008, Wet
  ruimtelijke ordening, etc. Absolutely fundamental — all Dutch environmental
  and planning translations post-2024 reference Omgevingswet.
- **Stikstof (nitrogen) crisis**: The 2019 Raad van State ruling (PAS-uitspraak)
  invalidated the Programma Aanpak Stikstof and blocked thousands of
  construction and agricultural permits. Project promoters must now
  demonstrate no significant nitrogen-deposition effect on Natura 2000 sites
  via AERIUS calculation; compensate via "intern salderen" (internal netting
  within own operation) or "extern salderen" (buying nitrogen rights from
  closed operations). Central translation point in almost all current Dutch
  development projects.
- **Urgenda and climate litigation**: Supreme Court ruling (HR 20 Dec 2019)
  ordered 25% emissions reduction by 2020 based on ECHR art. 2/8. Foundational
  case internationally. Klimaatwet (2019) sets 49% (updated to 55%) reduction
  by 2030 and 95% by 2050. Industrial CO2-heffing (since 2021) applies to
  missed benchmarks. Frequently cited in climate-litigation translations.
- **Omgevingsvergunning (integrated permit)**: Single permit across:
  building, environmental installation (IED), felling trees, demolition,
  siting of infrastructure, monument works, etc. Under Omgevingswet, regular
  procedure (8 weeks + 6 extension) or extended (uov — 6 months) depending on
  activity category. BBT-conclusions direct application for IED installations.
- **Waterschappen**: Water boards are independent functional governments with
  own democracy and taxation. Competent authority for water-law permits in
  non-state waters, quantitative and qualitative water management, flood
  protection. Oldest Dutch democratic institutions. Flag separately from
  municipal authorities in translations.
- **Vlaams permit regime — Omgevingsvergunning (BE)**: Since 2017 Flanders
  integrates planning permit ("stedenbouwkundige vergunning") and environment
  permit ("milieuvergunning") into the omgevingsvergunning. VLAREM II is the
  classified-installations technical code; VLAREM III adds IED-specific
  provisions. VLAREBO for soil; VLAREMA for materials/waste. Competent
  authority split between provincies, municipalities, and Flemish Government
  by project type.
- **Wet bodembescherming — transition**: Historical soil contamination
  (pre-1987 — art. 13 zorgplicht) and new contamination (post-1987 — strict
  duty of care). Under Omgevingswet, soil contamination regime transitions —
  Bal integrates soil-activity rules; residual Wbb transition provisions for
  ongoing remediation cases. Flag transition carefully in M&A translations.
- **OVAM (Flanders)**: Central agency for waste, materials and soil in
  Flanders. Maintains "grondeninformatieregister" (GIR) — all contaminated
  and potentially contaminated sites. "Oriënterend" and "beschrijvend"
  bodemonderzoek required on transfer of listed plots. Very different from
  Dutch regime.
- **UPV (extended producer responsibility)**: Dutch EPR via Besluit
  uitgebreide producentenverantwoordelijkheid (2020). Schemes for packaging
  (Afvalfonds Verpakkingen), textiles (2023), matrasses (2022), single-use
  plastics (2023), e-waste (Wecycle / Stichting OPEN). Verify current scope
  at translation date — expanding continuously.
- **Relativiteitsvereiste (art. 8:69a Awb)**: Administrative-law standing
  doctrine — claimant may only rely on rules that protect their own
  interests. Significantly narrows Dutch environmental appeals by third
  parties. Contrasts with broader EU-law standing for NGOs under Aarhus.
- **Cross-references**: See `dutch-real-estate.md` for building permits,
  zoning and the Omgevingsplan in a real-estate context;
  `dutch-energy-infrastructure.md` for renewables permitting, stikstof and EU
  ETS; `dutch-corporate-ma-jv.md` for environmental reps and warranties;
  `dutch-litigation-settlement.md` for Raad van State appeals.
