Soil contamination removal

What is it?

Soil that is contaminated may need to be remediated. This means cleaning up the soil as best as possible. Only licensed (officially approved) companies are allowed to remediate contaminated soil.

Are you buying a piece of land to build on or are you going to remodel on your land?

  • Then watch for soil contamination.
  • Have a soil test done. If the soil is contaminated, it may need to be remediated (excavated).

What to do?

  • Check the Soil Counter Map to see if the soil in your neighborhood is contaminated or already remediated.
  • Do you discover that your soil may be highly contaminated? If so, you should report this to the municipality or province. You can do this through the general e-mail addresses.

Soil testing

  • When buying a house or a piece of land, it is important to check with the municipality in advance about possible soil contamination. Ask your real estate agent or appraiser for advice on whether additional soil testing is necessary. (NVM brokers have a duty to investigate the issue).
  • Are you going to build or remodel? If so, you may need to have a soil test done. You will need this survey with your application for the environmental permit to build or remodel.

Soil remediation

Contaminated soil may need to be remediated. The municipality can inform you about this. Remediation of soil may only be done by approved companies. You can search for approved institutions through Rijkswaterstaat .

What should I bring?

  • the results of the soil investigation
  • A remediation plan (for contaminated soil)

Additional information

Buying a house or land

Do you want to buy a house or land? Then ask the real estate agent if the land is clean. Also ask if an oil tank has ever been placed in the ground. Most contamination on private land comes from an oil tank in the yard.

In the purchase contract, you can have it included who has to pay for the remediation.