Does the ban on face coverings apply at all government buildings?

Government organisations where the ban applies include:

• ministries
• town halls
• provincial offices
• police stations
• courts
• prisons
• Youth and Family Centres
• the Senate and the House of Representatives
• the Council of State
• the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
• the Court of Audit
• the Office of the National Ombudsman
• Municipal Health Services (GGD)
• water authority offices
• public-law autonomous administrative authorities (ZBOs) including:
  • Staatsbosbeheer (Dutch forestry commission);
  • the Police College;
  • the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA);
  • the Social Insurance Bank (SVB);
  • the National Library of the Netherlands;
  • the Whistleblowers Centre;
  • the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR);
  • the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM);
  • the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights.

For a full list of public-law autonomous administrative authorities, see the register of ZBOs (in Dutch).

You may not wear a face covering on the premises of these government organisations. ‘Premises’ refers to any building or land that belongs to the government organisation.

Central government has drawn up instructions for security staff at central government offices. These instructions explain what security guards are expected to do if someone enters central government premises wearing a face covering.

Does the ban also apply at foundations or associations in the public domain?

The ban does not apply at foundations or associations that receive government subsidy to offer a service, such as museums, swimming pools and public libraries.

Are you unsure whether you can enter a building wearing a face covering?

If so, contact the organisation in question for more information.

Buildings used by more than one organisation

Some government organisations share a building with one or more other organisations, for example with a private institution where the ban does not apply. In these cases the ban applies from the point where you enter the government organisation’s offices.

Government buildings rented by other organisations

If a government building is let out to a party that does not perform a government task, the ban does not apply.