How strict are gun laws in the Netherlands?
Licensed / moderate
Civilians can own firearms for hunting and target shooting with licensing requirements.
The Netherlands is one of 28 countries classified “Licensed / moderate” for civilian gun ownership — 25% of the 113 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 7 July 2026
- How it was classified
- Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.
Nearby countries
- Belgium
- Licensed / moderate Firearms ownership requires justification and licensing, with some shall-issue provisions.
- Denmark
- Restrictive Only shotguns pre-2001 allowed for civilians, with strict restrictions.
- France
- Restrictive Firearm ownership is restricted with strict licensing requirements and penalties.
- Switzerland
- Licensed / moderate Switzerland has moderate gun laws with permit requirements for most ownership, especially for sport shooting and hunting.
- Austria
- Permissive Most firearms can be owned permitlessly for hunting, sport shooting, and collection, with some restrictions.
- Czech Republic
- Licensed / moderate Firearms ownership allowed for hunting and sport shooting with permits, some categories permitless.
Other laws in Netherlands
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Every law in the Netherlands → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.