Water Board Regulation

The Water Board Ordinance contains the rules we use to protect our waterways, levees and roads. Different zones (areas of operation) have been defined around these ditches, dikes and roads, and different rules apply to each zone. The Water Board Ordinance is based on Article 2.5 of the Omgevingswet.

Since the Omgevingswet came into force (as of Jan. 1, 2024), it is mandatory to attach to every rule an area where that rule applies. We call this restriction areas or areas of operation. We therefore remind you that the rules in the Water Board Ordinance must be read in conjunction with these areas. You can find this at Rules on the Map.

Current Water Board Ordinance 2025

Draft 2026 Water Board Ordinance

Changes Water Board Ordinance 2026

We are currently working on the new Water Board Ordinance 2026. Starting September 24, the draft version will be available for review for six weeks. 

Online information session

On Wednesday, October 15 from 19:00-20:00 there will be an online information session where the changes will be explained and you can ask your questions. You can register for this via the e-mail address omgevingswet or by telephone on working days between 08:00 and 17:00 via the general telephone number 072 582 8282. After registering, we will send you the link to participate in the online information session. 

Submit views

You can submit your view(s) to the College of Dijkgraaf and Hoogheemraden (our Executive Board) for six weeks from the day the draft decision is made available for inspection. This can be done in the following ways:

  • Written by mail. Send your views to Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier, Postbus 250, 1700 AG Heerhugowaard. Please state for the attention of the Omgevingswet Team.
  • Digitally, using the appropriate web form at: Submit a view
  • Oral. You can Make an appointment an appointment for this by emailing omgevingswet A record will be made of your views.

Determination

The public comments may lead to changes with respect to the draft decision to amend Water Board Regulation HHNK 2026. The college of dijkgraaf en hoogheemraden will adopt a Memorandum of Reply to Views, in which a response is given to the submitted views. For reasons of privacy, views are anonymized in the memorandum. The Board of the dike grave and higher water board can also make (ex officio) changes to the content during the discussion. 

The amended Water Board Ordinance will take effect January 1, 2026. Until that date, the 2025 Water Board Ordinance will remain in effect.

Project 'When to compensate when raising' 

The intended implementation of the measure Raise = Compensate was not included in the Water Board Ordinance last year and it will not be this year. We are discussing with various stakeholders how the measure can be implemented. The usefulness and necessity of the measure remain unchanged. At the end of 2025 a decision will be made on the preferred scenario that will be included in the public participation procedure for the amendment of Water Board Regulation 2027. More information about the project "When to compensate for raising" can be found on the page Raising is compensating.

Current Water Board Ordinance 2025

On December 17, 2024, our Executive Board adopted amendments to the Water Board Ordinance. The amendments went into effect January 1, 2025, which is why it is called: the Water Board Ordinance 2025. 

The consolidated version of the 2025 Water Board Ordinance is available on the website www.overheid.nl. You can find it below as a pdf document.

Water Board Regulation 2024 continues to apply to permit applications submitted before Jan. 1, 2025.

The Environment Counter

In the Environment Desk, the Rules section on the Map allows you to see what rules apply to a site. Through this section, you can view rules, policies and information about the surrounding area.

On the same website you will also find the Permit Check. This allows you to check whether you need one or more permits for your plan. Note that some activities must be reported to the government in advance, even if they do not require a permit. You can find this out with the Permit Check. Via the Omgevingsloket you can then also submit your official application or notification.

Annual changes

The Water Board Ordinance is updated annually.

The amendments take effect annually on January 1 and are announced by publication in the Water Board Bulletin. The amendments are first published in draft form and are available for inspection for six weeks. You can submit your view(s) to our Executive Board for six weeks from the day the draft decision is made available for inspection. The board of dikegraaf and hoogheemraden will adopt a Notice of Reply to Views, containing the response to the submitted views. Your views may lead to changes in the draft decision. The higher water board itself may also make (ex officio) substantive changes. Those who have submitted views will be informed about how their views have been dealt with. Finally, the executive board of HHNK takes a decision to adopt the final amendments.

Maintenance Ordinance

Provisions on maintenance obligations in our management area can be found in the Maintenance Ordinance.

Questions

Do you have questions about the Water Board Ordinance? If so, please contact us via the contact form. On weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., you can reach us by phone at the general telephone number: 072 582 8282.

See also