Antique Gun - Legality - The Netherlands

The Netherlands

Exempt are the following weapons (leaving out items that are not relevant in this context):

b. All firearms produced before January 1, 1870

c. Rifles, shotguns, revolvers, pistols and combination-firearms designed and destined to be loaded with:

1) Loose balls and black powder, or

2) Cartridges, not being rimfire cartridges in caliber .22 or centrefire cartridges

d. Rifles, shotguns and pistols (not being revolvers) designed and destined to be loaded with cartridges of which the propellant consists of black powder or only priming compound, except rimfire cartridges in caliber .22 with a cartridge length or more than 18mm

e. Artillery pieces designed and destined to be loaded with loose projectiles and black powder, loose or in bagcharges

The exemption mentioned in points c, d and e only applies to weapons produced before January 1, 1945.

Notes:

Point b, c.1), c.2), d and e are separate groups, the criteria are not cumulative

Please note that point c.2) does NOT take into consideration what powder is used. Only the obsolete ignition system of the cartridge is the deciding factor.

Point d. means that, in blackpowder caliber .22 rf, only calibers .22 CB, .22 BB and .22 short are allowed. .22 long, lr and WRF are not.

Specific types of weapons are mentioned in the law. That means that the exemption does not apply to other types of weapons. A pinfire rifle may be free but a pinfire trapgun is not, a muzzleloading cannon from the civil war is free but a Gatling model 1873 is not.