Registering a merchant ship in the Netherlands

If you want to fly the Dutch flag on a merchant ship that you own or operate under a bareboat charter (bareboat-in), you must apply for registration in the Nederlands vlagregister (the Netherlands flag register) to obtain a zeebrief (Certificate of Registry).

If you wish to temporarily fly the flag of another country with a merchant ship registered in the Netherlands, you must apply for a Bareboat-out Declaration.