Dog owners in the municipality of Groningen pay the highest dog tax. There is also a ‘bark tax’ in Pekela, Delfzijl and Loppersum
Translated by Margery Didier
As reported by statistics Netherlands (CBS), nationally the number of municipalities that levy a dog tax is decreasing. In 2010, 71 percent of municipalities levied a dog tax, but in 2020, only 54 percent of municipalities in the Netherlands will impose such a charge.
Groningen city residents pay 129.60 euros per year for their dog. Dog owners in Loppersum also pay for their four-legged friends, but only 87.80 euros per year. A dog costs 64.10 euros in Delfzijl and 63.65 euros in Pekela. The dog tax provides sufficient income for the municipality of Groningen reports the DvhN, and means that it can afford such initiatives as the dog playground that is coming to the Stadspark in the near future.
Many municipalities have abolished the dog tax. According to them, the tax is difficult to collect and that inspectors must be deployed makes enforcement expensive. A spokesperson for the municipality of Groningen, however, says that the dog tax still brings in more money than it costs to enforce.
Nevertheless, most dog owners in the northern Netherlands are better off than in the rest of the country. For comparison: in Zeeland 11 of the 13 municipalities still charge a dog tax. Residents of Drenthe haven’t had to pay a dog tax since 2019, when it was abolished.
Image by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels
