Dutch government plans overhaul of zoo permit system

The Dutch government announced plans on 12 October 2026 to overhaul zoo permits, saying it wants to make it easier for zoos to modernise while gaining powers to press those it considers to be falling behind. State Secretary Silvio Erkens sent the proposals to parliament in a policy vision letter. The changes are not yet in force. [1]

According to the Dutch government, zoo permits currently have no fixed end date. It says that makes it difficult to require improvements, while zoos seeking to make changes face a fresh assessment and substantial paperwork. The government wants to remove administrative requirements it considers unnecessary; it cited rules requiring zoos to account for details such as the size of sand grains in aquariums and the diameter of birds’ perches.

The government says that under the proposed system, zoos that refuse to make improvements could face enforcement, including an order backed by a penalty payment. The government is also considering whether a permit could be withdrawn in an extreme case. [1]