If your training institute offers approved training courses for seafarers in the Netherlands, the institute itself must also be approved. You must apply for approval from the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). A transitional period applies to this regulation. From 1 January 2027, your training institute must be approved.

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Requirements

The name of your training institute must match the legal entity registered with the Kamer van Koophandel, KVK (Netherlands Chamber of Commerce).

Required attachments

You must upload several attachments with your online application. Please gather the following documents before starting your application:

Quality management system

  • A quality management system report.
  • A quality management system certificate.

Registration and registration system

  • Procedures and work instructions for registering and recording approved training courses.

Competency records

  • Procedures for recording, assessing and verifying required competencies.
  • Work instructions for issuing certificates to participants.
  • A certificate register with examples or screenshots.

Assessment of instructors

  • Procedures and work instructions for the recruitment and assessment of instructors.
  • Formats or examples of assessment forms.

Equipment and facilities

  • Procedures for maintenance, inspections and certification of materials used.
  • Lists of teaching materials and simulators used as part of approved training courses.
  • Maintenance reports for teaching materials.

Developing and maintaining training courses

  • Procedures and work instructions for developing, providing and maintaining training courses.

Examination regulations

  • Established examination regulations.
  • Work instructions for conducting exams and verifying competencies.

GDPR policy

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy aimed at computer use, online registration and other digital systems like Learning Management Systems (LMS).
  • GDPR procedures or work instructions.

KVK extract

  • Registration as an official training institute evidenced by:
    • A certified KVK extract.

How to apply for approval

You can apply for approval for a seafarer training institute using the online form Aanvraag erkenning trainingsinstituut maritieme opleidingen.  

Start application (in Dutch)

Costs

An application for the approval of a training institute costs €197 per hour of processing time. The total amount differs per application. The hourly rate is set out in the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Transportation Sectors Tariffs Scheme, in Dutch).

After submitting your application

  1. You will receive an automatic confirmation email from the ILT, including the registration number of your application.
  2. If any information is missing, the ILT will ask you to provide additional details.
  3. Once your application is complete, the ILT will begin processing your application. How long it takes to finalise your application depends on the specific situation.
  4. You will receive the decision by email. If the ILT approves your application, you will receive the approval by email.
  5. You will receive a payment request by post after the decision has been issued. Please pay within 4 weeks of the date of the payment request.

If you disagree with the decision, you can submit an objection.

Validity period

The approval is valid for a maximum of 5 years. The conditions for renewal are set out in the Regeling bemanning zeeschepen (Seagoing vessels crew Regulation, in Dutch), paragraph 3.7.