Drinking age and alcohol sales in the Netherlands (2026)

Last reviewed: 29 October 2026

In short: The minimum age to be sold or served any alcohol is 18, and the law has no exception for young people with an adult. Selling alcohol needs a municipal licence, and strong drink for use off the premises may only be sold in liquor shops. Municipalities set their own rules on drinking in public.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age to buy beer and wineBuying and drinking alcohol18 years [1]
Minimum age to buy spiritsBuying and drinking alcohol18 years [1]
Drinking by younger people with an adultBuying and drinking alcoholThe law has no exception for young people with an adult. Supplying alcohol, for payment or as a business, is banned unless the person has been shown to be 18. Supplying it to an adult when it is clearly meant for someone not shown to be 18 is also banned. [1]
Drinking in public placesBuying and drinking alcoholThere is no national ban on drinking in the street in the text read. Allowing alcohol to be drunk in a publicly accessible space outside a licensed bar or restaurant is banned, and municipalities can ban or restrict drinking by local rule, including in designated nuisance areas. [1]
Where and when alcohol is soldBuying and drinking alcoholSelling or serving alcohol needs a licence from the mayor. Strong drink (15% alcohol or more, wine excepted) for use off the premises may only be sold in a licensed liquor shop. Alcohol vending machines are banned and off-premises sales must be in a sealed package. Sales are banned at fuel stations and in petrol-station shops, and in shops of catering businesses along roads designated as autoweg or autosnelweg, except where the premises mainly serve hot meals for consumption on site. [1]

Notes

  • The Alcoholwet sets one age of 18 for all alcohol, strong drink and weak drink alike. The seller must establish the age, normally with an identity document, unless the person is clearly old enough.
  • Municipalities can add bans or limits on drinking in public by local ordinance (Alcoholwet art. 25a and 25f). Local rules were not checked.
  • Weak alcohol may also be sold outside liquor shops, for example in food shops (art. 18). No national opening hours appear in the text read; municipalities set local rules.

Sources

  1. Overheid.nl: Alcoholwet - BWBR0002458 (consulted 29 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.