Travelling
with your
instrument
If you are travelling with your instrument from The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation, please prepare carefully. Have you taken care of all customs formalities? How can you limit the risks of different weather conditions? If you are traveling outside the EU, please always let us know well in advance, at least 14 days. We will help you and arrange the correct documents.
Insurance
Your instrument from The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation is insured worldwide and against all risks. However, as a musician, you remain responsible and liable for complying with and completing the required customs formalities. Seizure by authorities is not covered by the insurance. Damage caused by weather conditions is also your responsibility.
Read the conditions here
Humidity and temperature
When travelling abroad, conditions for your instrument can change significantly. Heat, cold, dryness, or high humidity. Excessive variations pose a risk to your instrument. So make sure you limit them. Damage to your instrument caused by these external influences is not covered by insurance and is your own responsibility.
Within the EU
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If you are travelling within the European Union, you may bring your instrument with you without first requesting our permission.
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Here you will find the list of EU Member States.
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Please note: the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland, among others, are not part of the EU.
Outside the EU
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If you are travelling with your instrument to a country outside the European Union, you will always need our permission.
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Please submit your request at least 14 days before departure, preferably earlier, so that we have time to arrange any additional documents that may be required for your instrument.
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When travelling outside the EU, you may encounter problems if your instrument or bow contains protected materials, such as ivory. Contact us well before you travel for advice and, if necessary, to arrange replacement of a specific part. Even if your instrument contains no protected materials, it is often advisable to carry a Declaration of Materials which can help prevent questions or delays at customs.
Protected or prohibited materials in your instrument
Controls on the trade in protected animal and plant species have been significantly tightened in recent years. If you leave the EU with your instrument or bow, you may run into problems if they contain protected materials such as ivory, tortoiseshell, whale bone, reptile skin or rosewood. Even the small ivory tip of the bow can lead to the instrument being confiscated. You should therefore contact us well in advance of your departure so that we can advise you.
Depending on the situation, we can arrange for a part to be replaced (for example, the ivory tip or rosewood pegs), provide a replacement instrument or – if possible – apply for a CITES certificate. Even if your instrument does not contain any protected materials, a Declaration of Materials is often advisable. This declaration lists the materials used and can help prevent queries or delays at customs.
‘Specific Open Vergunning’ (SOV)
If your instrument is 50 years old or older and has an appraised value of €50,000 or higher, it falls under the category of Protected Cultural Goods. You may only leave and enter the EU with such an instrument if you are in possession of a ‘Specifiek Open Vergunning’ (SOV). We will provide you with this licence at the start of the loan period. The licence is valid for 5 years. We will ensure that the SOV is renewed in good time and send you the new licence.
Keep your SOV in a safe place, for example with your own travel documents. In any case, do not keep it in the case of your instrument. If your instrument is stolen or lost, you do not want the customs licence to be with it.
Have you lost your licence? Please notify us immediately so that we can apply for a replacement. This may take longer than a month.
If you have any questions,
please contact Geertje
