Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 10 DECEMBER 2025

Environmental Law 2025 - Netherlands

Loyens & Loeff
Loyens & Loeff
Contributor
Loyens & Loeff

Loyens & Loeff

One firm: Law and Tax Loyens & Loeff is a leading independent, full-service law and tax firm in...

View firm profile
Explore more from Loyens & Loeff

As a small and densely populated country and a member of the European Union, the Netherlands has a comprehensive and well-established regulatory framework governing environmental protection.

NetherlandsEnvironment
Guido Koop
Guido Koop
Jan De Heer
Jan De Heer
Nanne Kusters
Nanne Kusters

Law and Practice

1. Regulatory Framework and Law

1.1 Environmental Protection Policies, Principles and Laws

As a small and densely populated country and a member of the European Union, the Netherlands has a comprehensive and well-established regulatory framework governing environmental protection.

The Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet – EPA) has entered into force in 2024, ushering in a new era in Dutch environmental law. The EPA is intended to (gradually) replace the currently applicable environmental law framework, with the aim of creating one integrated framework.

The EPA has, as of 1 January 2024, replaced most of the Dutch environmental regulatory framework, with an exception being that part of the Environmental Management Act (Wet milieubeheer – EMA) will remain in effect. The EPA contains generally applicable regulations and minimum standards for a large variety of environmental aspects, such as air pollution, noise hindrance, emission

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

European Commission Proposal: Extension Of The EU ETS To Waste Incineration

The European Commission has proposed extending the EU Emissions Trading System to include municipal waste incineration installations from 2031, introducing a carbon price signal intended to strengthen incentives for waste prevention, recycling and circular economy practices. The proposal includes a phased implementation period and temporary opt-out provisions for Member States meeting specific conditions, while raising important questions about costs, contracts and the risk of unintended waste diversion.
European UnionEnvironment
Loyens & Loeff
Loyens & Loeff
Article

Amsterdam District Court Renders Interim Judgment In International Anti-SLAPP Dispute

The Amsterdam District Court has issued a significant interim judgment in a cross-border anti-SLAPP dispute between Greenpeace International and a U.S. energy company, examining whether Dutch courts can exercise jurisdiction over alleged strategic litigation initiated in the United States. The ruling addresses critical questions about the retroactive application of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, jurisdictional grounds under existing tort law, and the interplay between parallel proceedings in different
NetherlandsEnvironment
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Hague District Court Rules The State Of The Netherlands Must Adopt Absolute Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets

The Hague District Court has ruled that the Netherlands violated fundamental rights by failing to establish absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in its environmental policy. This groundbreaking decision, stemming from a claim by Greenpeace Netherlands and Bonaire residents, marks the first application of the European Court of Human Rights' KlimaSeniorinnen framework by a Dutch court, requiring states to adopt concrete measures mitigating climate change effects.
NetherlandsEnvironment
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Escalating Its Legal Strategy, Greenpeace Netherlands Petitions Dutch Court For Information On Meat Producer JBS’ Climate Impacts To Build Future Case

Greenpeace Netherlands has filed a petition in Dutch court to compel global meat producer JBS to disclose detailed information about its greenhouse gas emissions, supply chain practices, and expansion plans. This legal action follows JBS's rejection of an earlier demand letter and could establish precedent for using Dutch evidence-gathering procedures to build climate cases against agricultural and other high-emission industries that have largely avoided climate litigation.
NetherlandsEnvironment
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

OECD Releases New Pillar Two Guidance, Updated GIR And Framework For Legislative Reviews

The OECD has released new administrative guidance on Pillar Two's Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules, addressing explicitly conditional taxes and QDMTT safe harbour operations. The package includes an updated GloBE Information Return incorporating permanent safe harbours and establishes a peer review framework for assessing whether domestic legislation aligns with international standards.
NetherlandsTax
Loyens & Loeff
Loyens & Loeff
Article

Introduction Of A New Swiss Transparency Register

Switzerland's new Legal Entities Transparency Act introduces a centralised federal register of beneficial owners, fundamentally changing how Swiss companies must identify, document and report ultimate ownership and control structures. The regime imposes strict reporting deadlines beginning in late 2026, with criminal sanctions for non-compliance reaching up to CHF 500,000 for intentional breaches. Companies must now navigate complex look-through requirements, enhanced documentation obligations, and ongoing
SwitzerlandCorporate/Commercial Law
Loyens & Loeff
Loyens & Loeff