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A searchable study index for Aruba's sound guidance, legal instruments and official publication trail. Search the original wording, thresholds, methods and article references in one place.

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Guidance,
law, evidence.

The March 2015 DVG manual gives technical and public-health guidance for music events. The official Landscourant reproduced it on 24 January 2025. The Aruban ordinances and decrees are separate primary legal sources.

Use the index to find an exact Dutch phrase, then open the source document beside the English explanation. This page is a research aid, not legal, technical or medical advice.

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Try LAeq, 90 dB, Article 1, permit, earplugs or Hinderlijke geluidenverordening.

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27 indexed references

ManualManual p. 5 · section 1.1

Purpose of the guideline

The March 2015 DVG document frames a practical reference for harmful and nuisance sound at music events in Aruba.

Exact wording

De doelstelling van dit document is het bewerkstelligen van normen en richtlijnen voor schadelijk en hinderlijk geluid voor wat betreft muziekevenementen.

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ManualManual p. 3 · foreword

Effective date stated in the manual

The manual states when its guideline was intended to take effect.

Exact wording

Deze richtlijn treedt in werking op 1 juni 2015.

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ManualManual pp. 5-6 · section 1.2

Health effects of excessive sound

The document lists hearing trauma, hearing damage, sleep disruption, communication problems and nuisance among the possible effects.

Exact wording

Pijn en trauma van het gehoor; Gehoorbeschadiging; Verstoring van rust en slaap; Communicatieverstoring; Hinder.

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ManualManual p. 14 · general occupational guidance

80 dB(A) LAeqw: investigate exposure

The manual presents 80 dB(A) LAeqw as a level that can be harmful and calls for effective hearing protection to be available.

Exact wording

Geluidsniveaus vanaf 80 dB (A) LAeqw, kunnen schadelijk zijn voor de gezondheid.

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ManualManual p. 14 · general occupational guidance

Above 85 dB(A): limit exposure time

The manual says exposure above 85 dB(A) LAeqw should be limited to two or three hours and hearing protection should be mandatory.

Exact wording

De blootstellingduur in acht nemend, dienen bij geluidsniveaus boven de 85 dB (A) LAeqw de blootstellingduur beperkt te worden tot maximaal 2 tot 3 uur.

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ManualManual p. 14 · general occupational guidance

Above 90 dB(A): reduce the level

The manual calls for measures to reduce sound above 90 dB(A) and adequate hearing protection.

Exact wording

Bij geluidsniveaus boven de 90 dB(A) moeten maatregelen genomen worden om het niveau te reduceren.

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ManualManual p. 13 · section 3.1

What LAeq means in this document

LAeq is presented as a time-averaged sound level. The measurement period must be named, such as 15 or 60 minutes.

Exact wording

Dit soort decibelnorm wil zeggen dat men het geluid meet gedurende een bepaalde tijd ... en dan een gemiddelde over die tijdsduur berekent.

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ManualManual p. 16 · section 3.2.1

Jump-in levels at the site boundary

For jump-ins, the manual uses a one-minute LAeq range that depends on the time and the location, venue and nearby homes.

Exact wording

Voor 24:00 Laeq 1 min = 90-100 dB(A) · Na 24:00 Laeq 1 min = 85-95 dB(A).

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ManualManual p. 16 · section 3.2.2

Carnival parade measurement point

For jump-ups and carnival processions, the manual places the measurement ten metres perpendicular to the road edge.

Exact wording

Het geluidsniveau gemeten op 10 meter afstand loodrecht op de rand van de weg ... Laeq 1 min = 90 dB(A).

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ManualManual pp. 16-19 · sections 3.2.4, 3.3.3 and 3.4.3

Standard event measurement method

The event method in the manual specifies A-weighting, Fast response, a one-minute duration and a height of 1.5 metres.

Exact wording

Weging: A · Reactietijd: Fast · Meetduur: 1 minuut · Meethoogte: 1.5 meter boven de grond.

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ManualManual p. 16 · section 3.2.3

Keep speakers away from the audience

The carnival section recommends at least five metres between the audience and the loudspeaker, because levels rise quickly near the source.

Exact wording

Hanteer minstens een afstand van 5 meter tussen het publiek en de luidspreker.

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ManualManual pp. 16-18 · sections 3.2.3, 3.3.2 and 3.4.2

Hearing protection at events

The manual recommends that earplugs be made freely available to the public and attenuate at least 30 decibels.

Exact wording

oordopjes dienen gratis ter beschikking gesteld worden aan het publiek. Deze dienen tenminste tot 30 decibels te dempen.

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ManualManual p. 18 · section 3.4.2

Indoor music limits

For enclosed places with amplified music, the manual describes a 15-minute and 60-minute LAeq limit at a representative audience position.

Exact wording

Bij muziekactiviteiten mag het geluid niet harder zijn dan 90 dB(A) LAeq,15min, met een maximaal niveau van 93 dB(A) LAeq, 60min.

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ManualManual pp. 17 and 19 · sections 3.2.6 and 3.4.5

Escalation after a violation

The manual describes a sequence of warning, process-verbal and stopping the music after a third violation, subject to the competent authority.

Exact wording

Bij de derde overtreding van het vorengestelde wordt de muziek onmiddellijk stopgezet.

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ManualManual pp. 7 and 9 · sections 1.3 and 2.1

Measurements reported during Carnival

The manual records reported 2009 and 2014 exposure readings between 100 and 115 dB(A), lasting more than four hours.

Exact wording

het geluidsniveau tussen de 100 - 115 dB(A) lag, en de blootstellingduur meer dan 4 uur was.

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LandscourantLandscourant van Aruba · 24 January 2025 · year 2025, edition no. 2 · printed pp. 17-37

Landscourant publication record

The guideline appears in the official Landscourant van Aruba, year 2025, edition no. 2, dated 24 January 2025, beginning on printed page 17.

Exact wording

Richtlijn hinderlijke geluidsnormen voor muziekevenementen · Directie Volksgezondheid · Maart 2015.

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LandscourantGovernment of Aruba · DVG sound-management notice · 28 January 2025

Guideline versus law

The Government of Aruba describes the DVG publication as guidance intended to support future compliance with the Hinderlijke geluidenverordening; it is not the same instrument as the ordinance itself.

Exact wording

Het doel is dat deze richtlijnen in de toekomst de basis vormen voor de naleving van de wet Hinderlijke geluidenverordening.

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LandscourantGovernment of Aruba · DVG notice · 3 February 2025

DVG public-health message: keep sound at 85

A separate DVG public-health message published in the Landscourant calls on sound companies and event stakeholders to keep sound at 85 dB for hearing protection. This is public-health guidance, not a replacement for the applicable permit or law.

Exact wording

Hearing care. Keep the decibel at 85.

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Aruban lawAB 1988 no. GT 22 · Article 1 · official Central Wettenregister copy

Hinderlijke geluidenverordening · Article 1

The nuisance-noise ordinance prohibits making sound from music devices, amplifiers, shops, homes or enclosed places in a way that creates nuisance for the surroundings.

Exact wording

Het is verboden ... op zodanige wijze geluid te maken, dat daardoor overlast voor de omgeving ontstaat.

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Aruban lawAB 1988 no. GT 22 · Article 2

Hinderlijke geluidenverordening · Article 2

Article 2 provides for an exemption from the Article 1 prohibition by the competent minister or an authorised official.

Exact wording

Van het verbod, gesteld in artikel 1, kan ... ontheffing worden verleend.

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Aruban lawAB 1988 no. GT 22 · Article 3

Hinderlijke geluidenverordening · Article 3

Article 3 states that the Article 1 prohibition does not apply when the competent minister or authorised official has granted a permit for a music performance or music on the public road.

Exact wording

Het verbod, gesteld in artikel 1, is niet van toepassing indien ... vergunning is verleend tot het geven van een muziek-uitvoering.

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Aruban lawAB 1995 no. GT 8 · Article 23(a) · current register copy dated 11 April 2024

Algemene politieverordening · Article 23

The police ordinance includes a public-road prohibition against causing others nuisance or interference.

Exact wording

Het is verboden op de openbare weg: a. anderen hinder of overlast aan te doen.

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Aruban lawAB 1995 no. GT 8 · Article 26(1)(a)

Algemene politieverordening · Article 26

Public-road music or singing performances require a permit under Article 26.

Exact wording

Het is verboden zonder vergunning ... op de openbare weg: muziek- of zanguitvoeringen ... te geven, muziek te maken of te zingen.

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Aruban lawAB 1995 no. GT 8 · Article 27

Algemene politieverordening · Article 27

Within built-up areas, work causing serious noise or other serious nuisance that can be observed by neighbours or from the public road requires a permit.

Exact wording

Het is verboden in de bebouwde kommen zonder vergunning ... enig werk te verrichten, dat geraas of andere hinder van ernstige aard veroorzaakt.

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Aruban lawAB 1995 no. GT 8 · Article 36

Algemene politieverordening · Article 36

Public amusements and gatherings open to the public require a permit under the police ordinance.

Exact wording

Het is verboden zonder vergunning ... openbare vermakelijkheden te geven of voor het publiek toegankelijke bijeenkomsten ... te houden.

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Aruban lawAB 1990 no. GT 31 · Article 2(1)(d)

Safety Ordinance · Article 2(1)(d)

The Safety Ordinance provides the basis for workplace measures to prevent occupational disease.

Exact wording

Ter beveiliging van de arbeid dienen er maatregelen genomen te worden om beroepsziekten te voorkomen.

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Aruban lawAB 1991 no. GT 21 · Veiligheidsbesluit I · Article 58(g)

Safety Decree I · Article 58(g)

For harmful sound vibrations affecting the hearing organ, the decree requires suitable protective equipment to be made available and used as needed.

Exact wording

tegen de inwerking van schadelijke geluidstrillingen op het gehoororgaan: doelmatige beschuttingsmiddelen.

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Primary source shelf

Open the documents
behind the index.

These links are maintained by the Government of Aruba or reproduce the supplied DVG manual for direct comparison.

Use with care. The index summarizes and quotes selected passages. It does not establish which permit, enforcement action or legal remedy applies to a particular event, workplace or residence. Confirm current permit conditions and amendments with the competent Aruban authority or a qualified professional.

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