Asbestos removal

Asbestos fibers can cause life-threatening illnesses if they are released into the air and inhaled, for example during demolition work. As long as asbestos is embedded in other materials and remains undamaged, it does not pose an immediate danger. Below you will find all the information you need about identifying, reporting, and removing asbestos in the municipality of Opsterland.

Identifying and Testing for Asbestos

  • Visual inspection is impossible: It is impossible to tell with the naked eye whether a material contains asbestos. If you have any doubts, the material should be considered “suspicious.”
  • Asbestos Guide: Visit the Asbestos Guide at to learn how to identify materials suspected of containing asbestos.
  • You are not allowed to conduct your own tests: You may not take samples or test materials yourself to determine whether they contain asbestos. This may only be done by a certified inspection company.
  • When is an asbestos inventory report required?
    • If you are going to demolish (part of) a building (unless you can prove that the building was constructed after January 1, 1994).
    • If you do not meet the Requirements to remove asbestos yourself.
    • The report must always be prepared by a certified company; self-prepared or uncertified reports are invalid. 

Should you remove asbestos yourself or have it removed?

You may only remove asbestos-containing materials yourself if you meet all three of the following conditions: Requirements

  1. This refers to bonded rigid panels (such as corrugated roofing sheets). It does not include asbestos-cement or asbestos-gypsum panels.
  2. The panels are fastened with screws (not nailed or glued).
  3. This applies to a maximum of 35 m² of sheet material per lot (this includes sheets that have already been removed in the past).

If you do not comply with these regulations Requirements, you are required to have the work performed by a certified asbestos removal company based on an asbestos inventory report.

Submit a Demolition Notice (Required!)

You must always submit a demolition notice in advance through the Omgevingsloket, even if the corrugated sheets are asbestos-free (because they look very similar to asbestos-containing sheets, and the recycling center cannot take any risks). 

  • Please note the deadline:
    • At least 5 business days in advance for certain types of sheet materials (if you are allowed to remove them yourself).
    • At least 28 days in advance for other materials.
  • Important: It is not permitted to obtain a “permit” from the municipality after the fact. You may not remove asbestos without a pre-approved notification (this is a financial offense).

Here's how to submit the demolition notice through the Omgevingsloket:

  1. Go to the Omgevingsloket website at and click “Start application” (log in with DigiD).
  2. In step 3 (“Choose activities”) , type the word “demolition” in the search box .
  3. Select the activity: “Demolition of a structure or part thereof, or removal of asbestos – Notification (Federal Government).”
  4. Please go through the questionnaire. Health Please have the following information ready:
    • The area in m² (e.g., 12 m², not the number of corrugated sheets).
    • The origin of the material (e.g., the roof of a barn).
    • The method of attachment (screwed, nailed, or glued).
  5. Check your information and submit the report.

Are you having trouble submitting your application through the Omgevingsloket? If so, you can use the municipality’s simpler demolition notification form and send it to publiekscentrum@opsterland.nl. You can request this demolition notification form by calling the municipality of Opsterland at (0512) 386 222 or 14 0512.

Step-by-Step Guide: Removing and Disposing of Asbestos

  1. Submit a demolition notice: Submit the notice on time (28 days or 5 business days in advance).
  2. Wait for the acceptance letter: You will receive an acceptance letter as soon as your request has been approved. Bring this letter with you to the recycling center.
  3. Remove and pack it yourself (if permitted):
    • The material must not be damaged, and no fibers should come loose.
    • Wrap it in two layers of sturdy, undamaged plastic (at least 0.02 mm thick, such as agricultural film) and seal it tightly.
    • Don't make the packages too heavy (you'll have to load them into the container yourself). Plastic bags are available at the recycling center upon presentation of the acceptance letter. However, they are also available online or at home improvement stores, for example. For more information, visit the Omrin website: Disposing of Asbestos and Asbestos-Like Materials
  4. Drop-off: Drop off the packaged asbestos at the recycling center upon presentation of your acceptance letter.

Costs and Subsidies

  • Demolition Notice: Submitting a demolition notice to the municipality is free of charge.
  • Assessment and professional removal: There are costs associated with this. It is advisable to request quotes from certified companies through Ascert at . The costs of asbestos removal are not tax-deductible.
  • Drop-off at the recycling center: Are you authorized to remove the asbestos yourself? If so, you can drop off up to 35 m² of sheet material for free at the recycling center.
  • Subsidies: The municipality of Opsterland does not have its own subsidy program for asbestos removal. However, the province of Friesland (www.fryslan.frl) sometimes offers options for this, as does the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (www.rvo.nl).

Learn more

Still have questions?

If so, please contact the Public Center

Municipality of Opsterland

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions. If your question isn't listed, please contact us.

May I investigate on my own whether a material contains asbestos?

No. Only a certified company may do this. You can find a list of these companies at Ascert.

Are asbestos remediation costs tax deductible?

No, the costs of asbestos removal are not tax-deductible.

When do I need an asbestos inventory report?

You always need an asbestos inventory report if you are going to demolish (or have someone demolish) a building (or part of a building), even if you believe that there are no asbestos-containing materials in (that part of) the building. 

You also need an asbestos inventory report if you plan to remove the chimney or flues from a building. The only exception to this rule is if you can prove that the building (or part of it) in question was built after January 1, 1994.

If you do not meet the three Requirements for being allowed to remove asbestos-containing material yourself (see above), you also always need an asbestos inventory report.

The report must be prepared by a certified asbestos inventory company. You can find a list of these companies at Ascert. An asbestos inventory report prepared by yourself or a non-certified company is invalid.

What Requirements do I need to meet in order to be allowed to remove asbestos myself?

  • You are the private owner and are doing the work yourself

    • It must be a residence or outbuilding on your own property that is not used for business purposes. You may not have the work done by a contractor or friends.

  • This is one of the permitted, tightly-bonded materials (max. 35 $m^2$)

    • This applies exclusively to screw-fastened, bonded corrugated sheets (where the sheets are intact and have not been cut, broken, or otherwise altered) or to loose, bonded floor tiles/floor coverings. The total area may never exceed 35 $m^2$ per cadastral parcel.

  • You have submitted an approved demolition notice to the municipality in advance

    • You must submit a digital notification of the work in advance through the Omgevingsloket. Only after the municipality has granted permission (or the deadline has passed) may you carefully remove and pack the materials in accordance with the regulations.

What happens if I remove asbestos-containing material without demolition notification?

If you remove asbestos-containing material, without having filed a demolition notification to do so, you are guilty of an economic crime.