A sunlight study shows how many hours of direct sun a spot gets — checked against the TNO standard. Enter your address, place your measurement points and download a report you can submit to your municipality or in court. No agency, no waiting.
Free to explore. Pay €29.95 only when you download the report.
In short
A sunlight study — also called a bezonningsstudie or shadow study — calculates how many hours of direct sun a facade, window, garden or terrace gets on fixed reference days, and how a new or planned building changes that. In the Netherlands the result is checked against the TNO standard: the Light norm (at least 2 hours of sun per day between 19 February and 21 October) and the Strict norm (3 hours between 21 January and 22 November). Municipalities use such a study to assess permits; residents use it as substantiation for a formal response (zienswijze), objection (bezwaar) or neighbour-law dispute.
The standard
The TNO standard has two variants. Which one applies is decided by the municipality — Schaduwplan calculates both.
| Norm | Hours of sun per day | Period | Where measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light TNO norm | 2 hours | 19 Feb – 21 Oct | Centre of the window, behind the glass, 75 cm above the floor |
| Strict TNO norm | 3 hours | 21 Jan – 22 Nov | Same measurement point |
Municipalities such as The Hague, Rotterdam and Eindhoven have their own variant. Schaduwplan selects and calculates the right norm automatically based on your address. See the norm per municipality.
When you need it
The question is always the same — where and when does the sun fall? — but the trigger differs.
Why Schaduwplan
Agencies deliver solid work — but slowly and expensively. Schaduwplan runs the same assessment on the same data, in your browser.
The same data judges use
3DBAG, BAG, Kadaster and AHN — the same public sources that municipalities and the Council of State (Raad van State) accept. Every report includes the methodology and source references, so everything is independently verifiable.
5 minutes instead of 5-10 days
A traditional agency charges €330–€535 and delivers in 5 to 10 working days. Schaduwplan runs the same study in five minutes, for €29.95 — with no subscription.
Usable as evidence
North arrow, scale bar, before/after diagrams on the TNO reference days, a measurement-point table with pass/fail and a conclusion — exactly what a case file for a formal response or objection needs.
How it works
No software to install, no model to draw. Everything runs in your browser.
The 3D model of your home and all surrounding buildings is ready in seconds — automatically from 3DBAG and AHN. No upload, no drawing.
Mark your terrace, window or garden. If you like, draw the planned extension, roof addition or your neighbour's new build and compare the situation before and after.
A TNO-checked PDF with all reference days, measurement points and source references — ready to use with your municipality and indicative in court.
What's inside
An A4 PDF you can attach directly to a formal response, objection or permit application.
Cost
At a consultancy a sunlight study typically costs €330 to €535 per report, with a delivery time of 5 to 10 working days. With Schaduwplan you pay a one-time €29.95 per report — VAT included, no subscription, and ready instantly. You explore and calculate as many addresses and scenarios as you like; you only pay the moment you download a report.
Agency rates based on a public rate overview from three Dutch consultancies (checked 15 Apr 2026).
Possibly covered by your home legal-expenses insurance.
Home legal-expenses insurance can cover sunlight reports in disputes about building permits or neighbour law. Check your policy for "deskundigenrapport" (expert report) or "bouwtechnisch advies" (technical building advice) — or email us and we will help.
How do I submit this to my insurer?→€29.95 one-time
For one address, one decision — an objection, a permit, a purchase or a design.
See a free 4-page preview of your own report — only pay once it's right.
Frequently asked