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What the Wpbr Regulates
The Wpbr governs every commercial party in the Netherlands that provides guarding, alarm response, event security, personal protection, or private investigation services. It sets the conditions under which these organisations may operate: a permit from Justis, screened and trained personnel, approved uniforms and identification, and ongoing compliance supervision involving the police and the Ministry of Justice and Security.
The law distinguishes between categories of organisation — security companies (beveiligingsorganisaties), in-house security services, alarm centres, and private investigation bureaus (recherchebureaus) — each with its own permit type and requirements. For a buyer of guarding services, the relevant question is simple: does the provider hold an active security-organisation permit, and can it prove that every officer deployed to your site meets the personnel requirements?
The Permit and the ND Number
A Wpbr permit is issued by Justis after assessment of the organisation's reliability and administrative organisation, and is valid for five years, after which it must be renewed. Each permitted organisation receives an ND number (or POB number for investigation bureaus), which must appear in its business communications. The ND number is your verification anchor: it confirms the organisation exists in the permit register and allows you to check its status.
Operating a security organisation without a permit is a criminal offence. In practice, unlicensed operators surface most often in low-cost guarding, event staffing, and subcontracting chains — which is why buyers should verify not only the main contractor's permit but also that of any subcontractor actually supplying the officers on site.
Personnel Requirements: Screening, Training, and the Legitimation Pass
Every security officer deployed under the Wpbr must be individually approved: screened for criminal antecedents via the police (toestemming), professionally trained to the recognised standard for their role — for general guarding, the SVPB 'Beveiliger' qualification — and issued a personal legitimation pass, which the officer must carry on duty and show on request. Uniforms must be approved and carry the prescribed 'V' emblem that identifies private security.
These requirements are per person, not per company. A provider with a valid permit can still be non-compliant if it deploys unscreened stand-ins during staffing shortages. Reputable providers can show, per officer and per shift, that the person on your gate holds a valid pass. Ask for this evidence — a professional firm produces it without hesitation.
What the Wpbr Means When Selecting a Provider
The Wpbr defines the legal floor, not the quality ceiling. Permit verification takes five minutes and filters out illegal operators, but it does not distinguish a minimally compliant provider from a specialist. Beyond the permit, evaluate the provider's site-survey discipline, standing-instructions quality, supervisor coverage, incident-reporting standard, and the actual experience profile of the officers proposed for your site.
Mission Support operates under the Wpbr with fully screened, qualified officers and treats the legal requirements as a starting point. For guidance on the full selection process — from threat assessment to contract structure — see our guide on hiring object security, or speak directly with a specialist.
Frequently asked
What does Wpbr stand for?
Wpbr stands for 'Wet particuliere beveiligingsorganisaties en recherchebureaus' — the Dutch Private Security Organisations and Investigation Bureaus Act. It is the law that regulates commercial security and private investigation services in the Netherlands.
What is an ND number?
An ND number is the registration number Justis assigns to a permitted private security organisation in the Netherlands. Providers must use it in business communications, and buyers can use it to verify that a provider holds an active permit. Investigation bureaus carry a POB number instead.
Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed security company?
Operating without a Wpbr permit is a criminal offence for the provider. For the buyer, engaging an unlicensed provider creates serious liability exposure: incidents handled by unlicensed personnel can compromise insurance coverage and leave duty-of-care obligations unmet. Always verify the permit before contracting.
Does the Wpbr apply to security officers from other EU countries?
Security work performed in the Netherlands falls under the Wpbr regardless of the provider's country of origin. Foreign providers must meet Dutch permit and personnel requirements to deploy officers on Dutch territory, subject to EU recognition procedures for professional qualifications.