Last updated: March 2026
About the NVWA
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) inspects restaurants throughout the Netherlands. Here you can read what they assess and how they rate it.
The NVWA — Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority — is the government body responsible for food safety in the Netherlands. Restaurants, snack bars, caterers and other food businesses are inspected unannounced and must comply with European food safety legislation. A poor result can lead to enforcement action, increased supervision, or temporary closure. That makes NVWA inspection results one of the most objective indicators of how a restaurant handles food safety.
What does the NVWA inspect?
The NVWA assesses restaurants on four areas. Each area receives its own assessment that contributes to the overall result.
Correct food handling (HACCP)
Does the operator manage the risks? Are temperatures monitored correctly? Are perishable products stored and processed safely?
Allergen information
Is the customer correctly and fully informed about allergens present in dishes? Are staff aware of this?
Hygiene and cleaning
Is the kitchen and environment clean? Are hygiene protocols followed by all staff?
Labelling and information
Are products correctly labelled? Is shelf life information present and do ingredient lists match?
The NVWA rating system
After an inspection, the NVWA records one of three verdicts. RestoCheck shows this verdict for each restaurant so you can see at a glance how a business performed.
Compliant
The business meets all legal standards.
Areas for improvement identified
There are areas for improvement, but no immediate danger.
Increased supervision
Serious shortcomings: the business is under increased supervision.
No recent data
Not yet inspected or no recent data available.
How often does the NVWA inspect?
Not every restaurant is inspected every year. The frequency depends on the risk profile and previous results. A restaurant with a poor verdict will be followed up sooner than one that consistently scores well.
This means that the date of the last inspection matters. On RestoCheck you can always see when a restaurant was last assessed. If that was several years ago, the current situation may differ from what the inspection showed.
Complaint about a restaurant? Report to the NVWA
You can report complaints about restaurant hygiene and food safety directly to the NVWA via nvwa.nl. The NVWA may then carry out an inspection. Your personal details are not required — you can report anonymously.
File a report with the NVWAHow do I file a report with the NVWA about a restaurant?
Go to nvwa.nl and choose 'Melding doen' under 'Eten en drinken'. You can submit complaints there about hygiene, food safety, and allergen information.
What happens after filing a report?
The NVWA assesses every report and may decide to carry out an inspection. The result of that inspection will be published later and is visible on RestoCheck.
Can I report anonymously?
Yes, you can file an anonymous report with the NVWA. Your personal details are not required.