One tap, and suddenly the law is involved
You have the venue, the permit is in motion and tickets are live. Then the obvious question arrives: of course there has to be a beer on tap. The moment you serve alcohol at an event in the Netherlands, you fall under the Alcoholwet (Alcohol Act) — the name in use since 1 July 2021, when the older Drank- en Horecawet was renamed because that name kept causing confusion (Dutch government on alcohol).
For a temporary event you usually do not need a full liquor licence, but you do need an exemption under Article 35. Below we explain plainly what that means, what is and isn't allowed, and what to watch out for — so you know exactly where you stand before the first pint is poured.
For international readers: this is Dutch national law. If you organise events outside the Netherlands, the principle (a light-touch, time-limited permit for serving alcohol at temporary events) exists in many countries, but the exact rules, durations and authority differ. Always check the law in the country where your event takes place.
What is an Article 35 exemption?
The basic rule of the Alcoholwet is simple: serving alcohol commercially is only allowed with a liquor licence. But for a one-off, temporary event a full licence would be far too heavy. So Article 35 of the Alcoholwet creates an exception: the mayor (burgemeester) of the municipality can grant an exemption to serve alcohol temporarily without a regular licence.
The law attaches three firm conditions:
- It must be a special occasion of a very temporary nature — a festival, a parade, a sports event, a market or a club party. Something that happens once, or at most a couple of times a year.
- The exemption applies for a continuous period of no more than twelve days.
- Service takes place under the immediate supervision of someone who is at least 21 years old and of sound conduct.
Twelve days is generous enough for virtually any event: a weekend parade, a three-day festival or a tournament all fit comfortably.
Weak alcoholic drinks only — no spirits
This is the trap organisers fall into most often. An Article 35 exemption covers weak alcoholic drinks only: everything below 15% alcohol — beer, wine, port, sherry, vermouth and most mixed drinks based on those.
Spirits — distilled drinks at 15% alcohol or more, so gin, whisky, rum, vodka and cocktails made with them — are not covered. To serve those you need a heavier route, or you let a licensed hospitality operator run that part. For most festivals and club events this is no obstacle: beer and wine cover the bulk of the bar.
How do you apply?
You apply for the exemption at the municipality where your event takes place. The exact procedure, cost (administrative fees) and lead time vary by municipality — some handle it through a separate "special permits" form, others bundle it with the event permit. Many municipalities describe the steps on their own websites.
In practice, keep in mind:
- Apply on time. Allow a few weeks for processing. Bundle it with your event permit and safety plan so it runs in a single track.
- Name your supervisor(s). You must list one or more people aged 21 or older who are in charge while alcohol is served. Some municipalities ask for extra details — check your municipality's requirements.
- A floor plan. The municipality often wants to know where the serving points are and how large the serving area is.
- Fees. Costs vary, usually from a few tens of euros to a little over a hundred.
Age 18: checking is not optional
An exemption does not mean you can sit back. The minimum age of 18 applies in full: no alcohol to anyone under 18. Since the Alcoholwet there is also a pass-on ban — it is an offence to pass alcohol to someone whose age has not been verified (KHN on the age limit and the NIX18 campaign). A 19-year-old buying a round for a 16-year-old friend is exactly what the law aims to prevent, and the organiser is answerable for it.
In practice you manage this with a recognisable system at the gate or bar:
- Wristbands for over-18s, issued after an ID check on entry. At the tap the rule is then simple: no wristband, no alcohol.
- Clear instructions for your bar volunteers. When in doubt about someone's age, always ask for ID. "Under 25? Show your ID" works best.
- Visible signage that you enforce the age limit. It backs up your staff and makes the rules clear to visitors.
A municipality or enforcement officer may check compliance. Breaches can lead to the exemption being withdrawn — not something you want in the middle of your event.
Where ticketing and the bar meet
You arrange the exemption and the age check yourself, but your ticketing can make the work at the gate lighter. A tight check-in means you know who is inside and how many — useful both for your ticket types and capacity and for a smooth flow at the ID check. Hand visitors their over-18 wristband on entry, and the age check stays separate from the rush at the bar.
If you run a smaller event, don't assume the rules don't apply to you — they do, even when entry is free. Our piece on why your small event deserves tickets explains how a proper check-in pays off well beyond the bar, and creating and publishing your first event walks you through the ticketing side step by step.
In short
- Serving alcohol at a temporary Dutch event is possible with an Article 35 exemption under the Alcoholwet, granted by the mayor.
- It covers weak alcoholic drinks (under 15%), for up to twelve continuous days, under the supervision of someone aged 21 or older.
- Spirits are excluded — they need a different route.
- Apply on time at your municipality, ideally together with your event permit.
- The age limit of 18 and the pass-on ban apply regardless: arrange a watertight age check, for example with over-18 wristbands.
Rules differ per municipality, so always check the current requirements and local bylaws for the place where your event is held. Get that right, and the bar is the least of your worries.
Want the ticketing side of your event to run as smoothly as your bar? Register your organisation with MijnEvent and put your event live in minutes — with access control and a visitor overview included as standard.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, always consult your municipality.
