These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.
Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your Experience, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.
Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the laws or procedures have not changed recently.*
Considerate chefs are the best chefs.
For example, here’s what Host Alissa recommends: “I always make sure that my kitchen is spic and span, that I only use fresh ingredients and that I tell my guests about the ingredients I use. I also ask my guests in advance about any food allergies they may have and religious or philosophical codes that I need to keep in mind when I prepare a meal to share with them."
Offering meals for commercial sale is a regulated activity in the Netherlands. The rules of the Dutch Commodities Act (Warenwet) will apply anytime food is cooked or handled for paying guests. The Dutch Food and Product Safety Authority regularly enforces these rules. Details on the requirements for food safety can be found on the Nederlandse Voedsel – en Warenautoriteit NVWA website.
When your experience includes the serving of alcoholic drinks alongside food, you will need to comply with the best practices mentioned in the [Experiences Involving Alcohol] section.
If your Experience involves the cooking or handling of food served to paying guests (other than close friends and family who may just be paying you to share the cost of the ingredients), you will need to make sure that you follow the rules in the Dutch Commodities Act (or Warenwet). The Dutch Commodities Act imposes stringent standards on food hygiene and food safety. These standards apply regardless of whether you are running a commercial restaurant or engaging in a more amateur, occasional 'home cooking' activity.
The Dutch Commodities Act contains a large number of rules on hygiene and safety. In summary they revolve around three general points:
It can be very helpful to read the Dutch Commodities Act to familiarize yourself further with the rules that are explained here. You can also find more information here. Your local council may also produce guidelines or leaflets on food safety, which you might find helpful. Legal requirements on hygiene can be found on the Netherlands Food and Product safety authority website here.
The Dutch Commodities Act is enforced by the Dutch Food and Product Safety Authority Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit or the NVW. The NVW is entitled to inspect homes and conduct investigations, and can do so in reaction to complaints. The NVW may first issue a warning prior to imposing a fine for violations. You should be aware of potential criminal offences for failure to comply with this legislation, which may include financial penalties and the possibility of a custodial sentence.
If you love cooking as a hobby chef and you want to share that love occasionally with guests and you’re not doing it to make money -- the price you charge only covers your direct and indirect costs -- you may not need a license.
However, if you sell food to people outside of your circle of friends and family, or charge a price which covers more than your direct and indirect costs, you will need to obtain an exploitation license from the City of Amsterdam. Here is a helpful FAQ from the City of Amsterdam on how these rules work.