Environmental Act

The Environmental Vision outlines the long-term ambitions and policy goals for Voorschoten’s physical environment. The vision answers the question: What kind of village does Voorschoten want to be in the future, and how can we achieve that future together?

The Environmental Vision sets out the following:

• What are the qualities of the living environment in Voorschoten?;
• How the proposed development, use, and management will contribute to preserving and enhancing those qualities;
• What (comprehensive) policy is being implemented to achieve the stated ambitions and goals?

The Environmental Vision thus touches on a wide range of sectors, such as housing, the economy, the environment, nature, mobility, cultural heritage, energy infrastructure, agriculture, the landscape, and so on.

Effective engagement of all stakeholders (such as residents, business owners, civic organizations, and other local governments) is a key factor in the success of a widely supported Environmental Vision. Its development therefore requires a careful participatory process.

The City Council will adopt the Voorschoten Environmental Vision. We will begin drafting the Voorschoten Environmental Vision in early 2024.

The Environmental Plan sets out the municipality’s general rules for the physical living environment. Under the Environment Act, every municipality has a single Environmental Plan.

• The Environmental Plan specifies what may be built or renovated in a particular area and how the land and buildings may be used. The Environmental Plan indicates, for example, where homes, stores, businesses, or restaurants may be located and which land is designated for roads and green spaces.
• Everyone must comply with the Environmental Plan: residents, businesses, and institutions, as well as the municipality itself.

Would you like to know if you’re allowed to build or renovate at a specific location in the municipality of Voorschoten? Or if you’re allowed to open a store or café in a specific building? Or if you’re allowed to establish a business on a specific piece of land? If so, check the Environmental Plan on “Regels op de kaart” at .

An environmental permit grants you authorization for a project. This could be a small project, such as building a roof extension or cutting down a tree. It could also be a larger project, such as demolishing and rebuilding your home or constructing a commercial building.

Would you like to know if you need an environmental permit?
Check out thepermit checker from the Omgevingsloket.

Do you need help?

Do you have any questions or need help? Feel free to contact us atbouwen@voorschoten.nl.

When making plans, it is wise—and in some cases even mandatory—to involve local residents and businesses. It is therefore a good idea to discuss your plans with people in the surrounding area in advance. We call this participation.

View the participation guidelines      

To help you with this, we have developed aParticipation Guide. That way, no one will be caught off guard.

Here you will find all the regulations regarding the physical environment in Voorschoten. At this service desk, you can check whether you need a permit and apply for one right away.

The Omgevingsloket consists of three components

1. Permit Check: You can check here to see if you need a permit or must file a notification for your project.
2. Permit Applications: Here you can apply for a permit or file a report directly online.
3. Map Regulations: On a digital map, you can see which regulations apply at the selected location in the municipality of Voorschoten.

Construction with Quality Assurance

Are you planning to build? In some cases, in addition to obtaining a permit, you must also file a construction notification. You can find out more at the Omgevingsloket website: .

If you need to file a construction notification, you will need a quality assurance specialist. A quality assurance specialist assesses whether your structure meets these technical requirements.