Netherlands Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map

Fisheries Act 1963 (1963 (amended many times; in 2006 the term 'vergunning' in art. 21 was replaced by 'schriftelijke toestemming', Stb. 2006, 476)). It is the basic fisheries law. Under art. 21, in inland waters where another person holds the fishing right (visrecht), fishing without the written permission of the right holder is prohibited. Under art. 22, written permissions are subject to approval. Art. 2a regulates the power to set minimum sizes and closed seasons. Art. 56 penalises breaches of permit conditions. Permit: Written permission is required for angling in inland waters: VISpas (membership of an angling club plus Sportvisunie membership) or Kleine VISpas, plus the VISplanner app or the 'Lijst van VISwateren'. The Kleine VISpas is valid on a limited number of waters, only with a single rod, only during the day and with certain baits (bread, dough, grain, worms, insect larvae up to 2.5 cm); it does not allow predator fishing, night fishing or keeping fish. A full VISpas is required for predator fishing, 2 rods and night fishing. No permit is required for angling at sea (visserijzone, kustwateren, zeegebied). Competent authority: Ministry of Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur (LVVN); enforcement: NVWA, BOAs, police; licences and permits: Sportvisunie (formerly Sportvisserij Nederland; merged with 6 federations in 2025–2026) and affiliated angling clubs.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Inland Fisheries Regulation 1985 (1985). This regulation governs the gear usable in inland waters, the number of rods and the bait restrictions in art. 6 (from 1 April, ban on dead fish, slaughter products and artificial bait during the closed season). Uitvoeringsregeling visserij art. 61 grants an exemption from art. 6/1/a of this regulation from the last Saturday of May to 31 May. Competent authority: LVVN Ministry.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Minimum Sizes and Closed Seasons Decree 1985 (Besluit van 5 juni 1985, Stb. 1985, 301 (BWBR0003805); arts. 1–2 revised in 2012 by Stb. 2012, 439). Fish below the minimum size (art. 1) and fish caught during the closed season (art. 2) must be released immediately into the same water. The sizes and periods themselves are set in the ministerial regulation (Uitvoeringsregeling visserij). Art. 7 allows undersized perch to be kept in a keepnet and up to 20 dead perch to be used as bait (except IJsselmeer). Competent authority: LVVN Ministry.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Fisheries Implementing Regulation (ministerial regulation) (BWBR0024539 (in force since 2009, frequently amended)). Art. 5b sets minimum sizes, Art. 5c closed seasons by species. Art. 23a regulates release of eel at sea, Art. 24 + Annex 2 waters where night fishing is prohibited, Art. 25 + Annex 7 waters where angling is prohibited from 01.04–31.05. Art. 26 contains special rules for the river Geul, Art. 28b + Annex 15/16 restricted areas for eel and Chinese mitten crab, Art. 28c the 75 m ban downstream of dams on the Neder-Rijn, Maas, Lek and Overijsselsche Vecht, Art. 32a–32b the 01.09–30.11 closed season for eel gear. Art. 61 grants an exemption for snoek, snoekbaars and baars from the last Saturday of May (except IJsselmeer). Competent authority: LVVN Ministry; NVWA.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Environment and Planning Act (species protection; replaced the former Nature Conservation Act, 01.01.2024) (In force 01.01.2024). Protected fish species (Atlantic sturgeon, European bullhead, spined loach, common minnow (elrits), gestippelde alver, sea lamprey, houting, weatherfish) may not be fished and must be released if caught. Access and activity restrictions in Natura 2000 areas are also based on this act. Competent authority: LVVN; provincial authorities (provincies).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

VISpas conditions 2026–2028 / List of Shared Fishing Waters (private-law permit conditions; binding under Visserijwet Art. 21) (new conditions dated 12.08.2025; addendum dated 05.06.2026). Breach of the permit conditions counts as fishing without a permit. Main rules according to the conditions and the 2026 Kleine Lijst: full release of eel, carp and grass carp; during the bait closed season (01.04 – last Saturday of May) prohibition of methods suitable for catching zander (e.g. dropshot or jig with worm); ban on coloured live bait; keepnet rules; night fishing and shelter rules. There are also additional water-specific conditions (e.g. ban on night predator fishing on some canals; 3 rods only for carp). Permit: VISpas: club membership required. Night fishing and 2 rods are allowed depending on the water. Details are in the VISplanner. Competent authority: Sportvisunie and affiliated angling clubs (visrechthebbenden).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Bait closed season (gesloten tijd aassoorten): fishing WITH slaughter products (slachtproducten), dead fish or fish parts (of any size) and any artificial lure is prohibited; the only exception is artificial flies smaller than 2.5 cm. Natural baits such as worms, maggots, dough etc. are permitted. On some waters this period is longer (indicated in the list). Period: 01.04 – last Saturday of May.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

IJsselmeer: In the IJsselmeer the bait closed season runs from 16 March to 1 July. The end-of-May exemption in Art. 61 does not apply in the IJsselmeer. Period: 16.03–01.07.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

VISpas condition: during the bait closed season it is prohibited to fish in a manner suitable for catching zander (e.g. active dropshot or jig head with worm). Catfish fishing with worm is allowed. Period: 01.04 – last Saturday of May.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Live vertebrates (live fish, amphibians etc.) may not be used as bait; bait fish must be killed before being put on the hook. Coloured live baits (red maggots, fluorescent worms) may not be carried. A baited rod may not be left unattended. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Night fishing is prohibited with the Kleine VISpas. With the full VISpas night fishing is generally permitted, but water-specific conditions apply (on some waters night predator fishing is prohibited; night fishing within direct sight of houses requires the residents' permission). A shelter (tent) usable during the day may be at most 3.20 × 3.10 × 1.80 m and must be natural green or brown; many municipalities' APV prohibit shelters. Keepnets may only be used between sunrise and sunset. Period: All year; from 2 hours after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

In the waters listed in Annex 2 of the Uitvoeringsregeling visserij, all fishing at night is prohibited (see yasak_alanlar). Period: All year; from 2 hours after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

With the Kleine VISpas, killing, retaining and selling fish is prohibited. With the VISpas, eel, carp, grass carp and all legally protected species must be released immediately. Fish with a minimum size may not be filleted at the waterside. Live fish over 30 cm may only be kept in a keepnet, retention sack or sling. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

VISpas 2026 nationwide retention (meeneem) limits: pike max. 1 (45–80 cm), zander max. 2 (42–70 cm), perch max. 3 (22–45 cm). Fish outside the range must be released. On many waters taking pike is completely prohibited. Caught fish may be taken only for personal consumption or as bait; sale is prohibited. Eel, carp, grass carp and protected species must always be released. Water-specific conditions may be stricter (e.g. full release of perch, zander, pike, carp and tench on HSV De Vroegte Wint waters). Period: all year (from 2026).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Bullhead (beekdonderpad) (Cottus perifretum / C. rhenanus): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Brook lamprey (beekprik) (Lampetra planeri): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Common minnow (elrits) (Phoxinus phoxinus): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Gestippelde alver (Alburnoides bipunctatus): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Weatherfish (grote modderkruiper) (Misgurnus fossilis): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →