Hinderwet

Hinderwet, literally meaning the Nuisance Act, is a historical Dutch statute that was designed to prevent and control nuisance arising from industrial and other activities. The act aimed to protect residents and the public from nuisances such as smoke, dust and odour, as well as noise, vibration, heat, and other emissions linked to industrial operations, construction sites, and certain land uses. It established that local authorities could prohibit or limit activities that produced nuisance beyond accepted thresholds and created mechanisms for permits, abatement orders, and injunctions to curb nuisance.

The law framed enforcement as a municipal responsibility, with authorities empowered to inspect premises, handle complaints, and require operators to implement nuisance-reducing measures, such as improved ventilation, filtration, noise dampening, or altered operation hours. It distinguished between nuisances that were actionable per se and those requiring proof of actual harm, and provided for penalties or administrative enforcement against offenders. The Hinderwet thus sought a balance between allowing industrial activity and safeguarding community well-being.

Over time, the Hinderwet was revised and gradually superseded by broader environmental legislation, but it remains noted as a forerunner of modern Dutch environmental regulation. It influenced how later statutes addressed air and noise pollution, land use, and the siting of industrial activities, contributing to the development of a framework that integrates environmental protection with urban planning and public health.

See also: Dutch environmental law, Wet milieubeheer, Noise regulation, Air pollution control.