Event permit

Do you want to organize an activity or event? You often need a permit for this. In addition to permission to organize something somewhere, you often also need exemptions for serving alcohol or fire-safe use of a tent, for example.  

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The municipality is responsible for safety at most events. Sometimes an 'Event permit application' is required to ensure that the organizer carries out the event in a responsible manner. In other cases, a 'Small event notification' is sufficient.

Notification of small event

Event permit application

Primal Rock

Notification of small event 

In Opsterland, a small event is defined as a one-day event in which:

  • the number of attendees does not exceed 200 persons;
  • the activities take place between 7:00 a.m. and midnight;
  • no mechanically amplified music is played between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. during the event;
  • the activities do not take place on the roadway, (moped) bike path, or parking lot, or otherwise obstruct traffic and emergency services;
  • A maximum of one inflatable cushion may be placed, and for the rest:
  • Only small objects with a surface area of less than 10 square meters per object and a maximum combined surface area of 50 square meters per street may be placed; or one tent may be placed that complies with fire safety requirements and in which no more than 50 people are present at any one time.

When do you need an event permit?

  • If there are more than 200 people, you must apply for an event permit.

In addition to that event permit, you often need permits and/or exemptions for such things as serving alcohol, holding a game of chance or fire-safe use of a tent. 

By events we mean: all publicly accessible activities of entertainment. Examples include concerts, competitions, circuses, parties and fairs. A permit may also be required for a private party on or near the road.

What information should you submit with the application?

When applying for an event permit, you will need to provide various documents. For example:

  • A situational drawing showing the tent and/or structure, in relation to other immediately adjacent properties;
  • a floor plan of the tent or building, showing such things as emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and so on.

(A comprehensive checklist is included with the event permit application form).

When should you submit the application?

An application for an event permit must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to the start of the event. 

Sometimes the municipality needs a lot of time to coordinate with police, fire department and possibly other organizations. Therefore, submit your event permit application well in advance.

Do you always get a permit?

We may deny a permit and/or waiver in the interest of:

  • public order;
  • public safety;
  • public health;
  • environmental protection.

When can I report an event instead of applying for a permit?

If the event you are organizing meets the Requirements listed below, you do not need to apply for a permit. A notification is then sufficient. 

Requirements

  • One-day event
  • The number of attendees exceeds 200 people
  • The number of attendees does not exceed 500 people
  • The event will take place between 7 a.m. and 00 a.m.
  • No music (mechanically amplified) can be heard before 9 a.m. and after 11 p.m.
  • The event will not take place in the roadway, bicycle, moped or parking area
  • The event will not interfere with traffic and emergency services
  • No large objects will be placed. Small objects are allowed, with a surface area of less than 10 m2 per object up to a maximum of 50 m2 per street. Or one tent that meets the fire safety requirements (which means, among other things, that no more than 50 people are present in it at the same time)
  • The organizer notifies the mayor within four weeks before the event, if the number of attendees exceeds 200 people

To the extent that there is a number of attendees exceeding 200 persons, the organizer has notified the mayor within four weeks prior to the event.

The mayor may, within two weeks of receiving a notification, decide to prohibit the organization of an event as referred to in the third paragraph, inasmuch as the event endangers public order, public safety, public health or the environment.

Additional information regarding your event permit application

Will you also be serving alcohol?

If you are organizing an event outside a catering establishment, you will also need an exemption from the Alcohol Act. For this you can fill in the details on the event permit form. You will have to pay a fee to apply for an exemption from the Alcohol Act.

Fire-safe use

When the event takes place in an existing building, in a tent or other temporary structure and more than 50 people are present at the same time, you also need a notification of fire-safe use. You can fill in the details for this on the event permit form.

Events and nature protection

Some events require a permit or exemption under the Nature Conservation Act. The application for this must be received six months in advance.

In addition, you must investigate whether the activity involves nitrogen emissions. If this is the case, then the activity requires a permit (Natura2000 activity).

For these topics, please refer to the province. For more information or to submit an application, visitEvents and nature conservation | Fryslân.

Noise Standard

No agreements yet existed about audience exposure to noise.
That has now changed. A covenant has been signed by event makers, pop venues and the National Hearing Foundation. In the attachment below you will find more information about this. 

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Download application forms and additional information below.

Downloading and opening a document

  • You can open a docx file in various document readers, such as OpenOffice.org.
  • You can open a PDF file in various PDF readers, such as Adobe Reader.

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Still have questions? Please contact the Public Center

Municipality of Opsterland