Accessibility Compliance

Building for Everyone: The 'Bouwbesluit'

Accessibility compliance in the Netherlands is primarily governed by the Bouwbesluit (Building Decree). This is a comprehensive set of national technical regulations that all new construction and major renovation projects must adhere to. The Bouwbesluit includes specific minimum standards for accessibility to ensure that new buildings are usable by people with disabilities, including wheelchair users.

New Buildings vs. Existing Housing Stock

A critical distinction in Dutch law is that these accessibility standards are not retroactive.

• New Construction (Nieuwbouw): Any apartment building built today must comply with the current Bouwbesluit. This typically means it must have a threshold-free entrance, an elevator if it has multiple floors, and doorways that are wide enough for a wheelchair.
• Existing Buildings (Bestaande Bouw): The vast majority of the Dutch housing stock was built before these modern standards were enacted. An old canal house from the 17th century, with its steep, narrow stairs, is not legally required to be made accessible. A landlord is not obligated to upgrade an existing property to meet new accessibility standards unless they are undertaking a large-scale, permit-required renovation.

For a tenant with a disability looking for housing, this means that their search will be largely focused on modern buildings (typically from the 1990s onwards) or on properties that have been specifically adapted via the Wmo (Social Support Act).