Netherlands

The Dutch flag is popular with many European owners for its simple procedure and the long-lasting certificate. Agenzia Magnum helps you register your pleasure boat in the Netherlands register.

Who runs the register

The certificate of registry for pleasure craft, the zeebrief, is issued by the Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT), the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, which keeps the flag register. The Kadaster (Land Registry) checks that the vessel meets the requirements for Dutch nationality, records its ownership and, for vessels under 24 metres, carries out the tonnage measurement. Since 1 July 2025 the matter has been governed by the new ship nationality law (Rijkswet nationaliteit zeeschepen). Official information is available on the ILT website.

Who can register

For pleasure craft, the key requirement for a foreign owner is that one or more individuals in the Netherlands hold a power of attorney sufficient to act on the owner's behalf without delay. The vessel cannot be registered in another state's register at the same time and must comply with the applicable safety and pollution prevention rules.

Which vessels

The pleasure craft zeebrief covers seagoing vessels that are never used for commercial purposes in any way. Even occasional commercial use rules out registration as a pleasure craft: in that case the vessel must be registered as a merchant ship, with stricter requirements, including an establishment of the owner in the Netherlands. The ICP (International Certificate for Pleasure Craft) issued by Dutch boating associations does not prove nationality and does not give the right to fly the Dutch flag.

Advantages for an Italian owner

• an EU flag with a largely online procedure;
• the zeebrief remains valid as long as the recorded details do not change (characteristics, name, owner, address);
• ownership is recorded in a public register kept by the Kadaster.

If the vessel is sold, the certificate ceases to be valid and the new owner must apply for a new one. The flag does not change the VAT and customs status of the vessel.

How we help

We prepare the documents, support you with the application to the ILT and the steps at the Kadaster, and coordinate the appointment of your contact person in the Netherlands, following the procedure through to the issue of the zeebrief.

Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page with your boat's details.

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