All horses in the Netherlands must be registered in the central database of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). As a passport issuing organisation (PIO), the KWPN submits these identification details to the RVO. Does your horse have a foreign passport? If so, it must be registered with a Dutch PIO within 30 days. Registration is also mandatory for horses for which only an import notification is required.

For this purpose, you must provide:

  • copies of all relevant passport pages (microchip number, UELN, name, sex, colour, place of birth, date of birth and medical section);
  • the TRACES number or health certificate.

Exceptions:Temporary Stays

Horses that are temporarily present in the Netherlands do not have to be registered in the central RVO database in the following cases:

  • Horses staying in another Member State for a maximum of 90 days for competitions, horse races, shows, training or draught activities.
  • Stallions staying in another Member State for the breeding season.
  • Mares staying in another Member State for breeding purposes for a maximum of 90 days.
  • Horses staying in a veterinary institution for medical reasons.
  • Horses that are slaughtered in another Member State within 10 days of import.