HEERLEN – 56 dog fines were issued in Limburg last year. This includes only 3.4% of all fines in the Netherlands. These include fines for leaving dog poop or not keeping the dog on a leash. This is evident from research by decided.nl, which analyzed the figures on dog-related fines based on CJIB data.
By far the largest share of dog fines was issued in Heerlen: 26.8% of all fines in the province were for residents of this municipality. After Heerlen, dog owners were also often fined in Maastricht and Kerkrade. Maastricht residents received 14.3% of all fines, while Kerkrade residents provided 10.7% of the total.
Fewer and fewer municipalities have dog taxes
In fewer and fewer municipalities, Limburgers pay dog tax. In 2014, this still concerned 27 of the 31 current municipalities. 20 municipalities now levy taxes on dog ownership, including Roermond, Maastricht and Venlo.
Top 5 municipalities with the highest dog taxes:
1. Roermond: €87.00
2. Heerlen: €80.23
3. Eijsden-Margraten: €80.00
4. Landgraaf: €78.40
5. Beek: €72.65
The number of fines is decreasing in the Netherlands
The number of fines for dog owners has been decreasing for years. In 2022, 1,636 ‘dog-related fines’ were issued throughout the Netherlands, compared to almost five thousand fines in 2016. This is a decrease of 67.1%. There has also been a decline in dog fines in Limburg. Compared to 2016, there has been a decrease of 60%.
Infographic dogs: fines, taxes and pet supplies by decided.nl