In the Netherlands a veranda on the rear wall is often allowed without a permit. Often, not always — and the exceptions are precisely the cases where people assume it will be fine.
What it usually comes down to
Permit-free building at the back of a house comes with conditions on height, depth and the share of the rear plot you may build on. The rules are set nationally, but how they work out on your plot depends on the shape of your garden and on what is already there: a shed or garden house counts towards the area you may build on.
Situations where it pays to check
- The veranda goes on the front or side of the house, or borders public land
- You live in a conservation area, or the building is listed
- There is already a shed, garden house or earlier extension on the back plot
- You are building against a party wall or right on the boundary
- The structure is higher than what is allowed without a permit
How to find out
The quickest route is the official permit check: you enter your address and your plans and are told whether a permit is needed. If you are unsure about the outcome, a call to the local authority is usually settled within ten minutes. That is considerably cheaper than an enforcement letter once the veranda is up.
And the neighbours
Even a permit-free veranda can lead to trouble if it takes away light or blocks a view. Mentioning it before building starts costs nothing and prevents a lot.
Regulations change. For your own situation always go by what the local authority says, not by an article.