Product requirements for recreational craft and personal watercraft
Pleasure craft and personal watercraft that are brought to the market in the Netherlands must meet legal product requirements. All operators in the economic chain have obligations, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and rental businesses. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) oversees compliance.
This page provides an overview of the product requirements, including those for safety and exhaust emissions. These requirements are derived from the Wet pleziervaartuigen 2016 (Pleasure Craft Act 2016), which is based on the European directive on recreational craft and personal watercraft.
Please note: Refer to the Pleasure Craft Act and the European Union (EU) directive to ensure compliance with all regulations.
Which vessels must meet the product requirements?
The Pleasure Craft Act applies to recreational craft with a hull length between 2.5 and 24 metres and personal watercraft up to 4 metres. It does not apply to vessels such as canoes, racing boats, or pedal boats.
Who is responsible?
Your role as an operator in the economic chain determines your obligations regarding vessels covered by the Pleasure Craft Act 2016.
Manufacturers - If you are the manufacturer, you must ensure the vessel meets product requirements and that the necessary documents are in order. You are also considered the manufacturer under the law if you place your own brand name on a vessel.
Importers - If you are importing a vessel into the European Economic Area (EEA) for the first time, you must ensure that both the manufacturer and the vessel comply with all legal requirements. The EEA includes the European Union (EU), as well as Norway and Iceland.
Distributors - If you are a distributor, you must verify that the vessel has a CE marking and is accompanied by the correct documentation.
Rental businesses - If you are a rental business, you are also an operator in the economic chain and have the same obligations as a distributor. You must verify that the vessel has a CE marking and is accompanied by the correct documentation.
Conformity assessment
As a manufacturer, you must demonstrate that the craft meets the product requirements. These include:
Safety requirements, such as those for structure, stability and buoyancy.
Environmental requirements for exhaust and noise emissions from propulsion engines.
Required documentation, builder’s plate and WIN code
Once you have determined that the craft complies with all product requirements for the chosen design category, you must prepare the required documentation and affix the Watercraft Identification Number (WIN) and a builder’s plate with the CE marking to the craft.
You must issue an EU Declaration of Conformity. This declaration must be issued in Dutch and must include at least the following:
A description of the craft.
Your name and contact details as the manufacturer.
The standards against which the craft has been assessed.
The name of the notified inspection body, if you have engaged one.
The certificate from the notified inspection body, if applicable.
You must prepare a user manual in Dutch or English. This manual must include a copy of the EU Declaration of Conformity and must be provided with each craft.
Ensure that the manual is specific to each individual craft. If you modify a craft, the manual must be updated accordingly.
As a manufacturer, you must create a technical file that demonstrates that the craft complies with the product requirements.
The technical file must include:
A general description of the craft type.
Design and manufacturing drawings and diagrams, including explanations.
Results of design calculations and studies.
Test reports or calculations, particularly regarding stability and buoyancy.
Reports demonstrating compliance with noise and exhaust emission requirements.
A list of standards applied and/or a description of alternative solutions used to meet essential requirements.
Certificates, reports and statements from the notified inspection body, if applicable.
This file must be retained for at least 10 years after the craft is delivered.
Each craft must be assigned a unique WIN or Craft Identification Number. This WIN consists of 15 characters in the following format: NL-ABC12345A909.
ABC is your manufacturer code, which must be requested from HISWA-RECRON (in Dutch).
12345 is a type/build number that you assign.
A909 refers to the build month (A), build year (9) and model year (09).
The WIN must be applied to the transom of each craft on the starboard side and also in a second, hidden location onboard.
You must affix a builder’s plate to the craft, visible from the helm position. This plate must display the following:
Your name and contact details as the manufacturer.
The CE marking.
The craft's design category.
The maximum load recommended by you as the manufacturer.
The maximum number of persons recommended on board by you as the manufacturer.
