Yacht registration under the Dutch Flag

There are two ways of registering your yacht under the Dutch flag: the “light registration” in case the owner wishes a fast and easy registration for navigating within EU waters, and the other being the global registration intended for yachts with a worldwide area of navigation.

Light registration

The Light registration is only available for yachts traveling solely within European Union waters and is available for European Union citizens or companies registered in any European Union country. The registration procedure is very straight forward, free of any bureaucracy and inexpensive.

Light registration criteria:

• Sailing area only within the European Union
• Available only to EU citizens or companies registered in the EU
• No survey requirements
• Length of yacht must not exceed 24m

We note that any non-EU citizen may still register under the light registration provided of course that a company registered in the EU is the registered owner of the yacht.

Documentation required:

• Copy of the bill of sale /copy of the insurance policy of the yacht
• Colour copy of the owner’s passport or the director’s passport (if dealing with a company);
• Copy of the Memorandum & Articles of Association of the company (if dealing with a company)

*The light registration is available to Swiss and Norwegian physical persons without having to incorporate an EU company.

Global registration

The Global registration is intended to be used for the registration of yachts which intend to navigate either outside the European Union waters or have a worldwide area of sailing or they are engaged in commercial chartering.

Global registration criteria :

• Available only to EU citizens or companies registered in an EU country
• Worldwide area of navigation
• Tonnage survey certificate
• Colour copy of the owner’s passport which must be duly certified by a notary public

We note that any non-EU citizen may still register provided of course that a company registered in the EU is the registered owner of the yacht.

Documents required:

• Copy of the bill of sale /copy of the insurance policy of the yacht
• Colour copy of the owner’s passport or the director’s passport (if dealing with a company);
• Copy of the Memorandum & Articles of Association of the company (if dealing with a company)

*The global registration is available to Swiss and Norwegian physical persons without having to incorporate an EU company.