The SVH social hygiene computer exam (Sociale Hygiëne): 40 questions, 40 minutes, pass with 29
In the Netherlands, managers of a business that serves alcohol (such as a bar, café or restaurant) or sells strong drink (a liquor store) need to show enough knowledge of Sociale Hygiëne (social hygiene), in practice with a recognised diploma, and must be registered. One way to earn the diploma is the computer exam of the SVH (Stichting Vakbekwaamheid Horeca): 40 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. You pass if you get at least 29 right, so you can get up to 11 wrong.
The exam is also available in English. Below you read what the exam covers, where you take it, when you get your result and what you do after you pass.
This page summarises what the SVH and SDEN write (in Dutch) about their Sociale Hygiëne exams, read on 22 and 24 October 2026, and what the Dutch Alcohol Decree (Alcoholbesluit) says a recognised diploma must cover. Examenzaal is not a training provider or exam centre and is not part of the SVH, SDEN or the Landelijke commissie sociale hygiëne (Lcsh). You book your exam with an exam provider, not with us.
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How the exam is built
According to the SVH, the computer exam has 40 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 29 correct answers to pass, and the exam takes 40 minutes.
| Part | What the SVH says |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 40 minutes |
| Pass mark | at least 29 correct (so at most 11 wrong) |
| Languages | Dutch, English, Modern Standard Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Turkish |
What you need to know: the ten learning outcomes
The Dutch Alcohol Decree (Alcoholbesluit) describes what social hygiene covers, such as the effects of alcohol and drugs, alcohol abuse, gambling on slot machines, the rules on alcohol and the technical and structural facilities of the premises. These requirements are worked out in the learning outcomes (eindtermen) of annex II.
Because a diploma is only recognised if it meets at least these learning outcomes, they are a good guide to what the exam covers. We have no source on how the 40 questions are spread over them. There are ten learning outcomes, each with a number of exam requirements; the table gives the Dutch names with our translation.
| No. | Dutch name | In English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sociale Hygiëne | Social hygiene |
| 2 | Grenzen stellen aan gedrag | Setting limits to behaviour |
| 3 | Gespreksvaardigheden | Conversation skills |
| 4 | Risicogedrag bij regelhandhaving | Risk behaviour of guests when enforcing the rules |
| 5 | Gespreksmodellen | Conversation models (techniques) |
| 6 | Alcohol | Alcohol |
| 7 | Drugs | Drugs |
| 8 | Tabak | Tobacco |
| 9 | Gokken | Gambling |
| 10 | Veiligheidsvoorzieningen | Safety provisions |
- Alcoholbesluit artikel 4.1 (opens in a new window)
- Alcoholbesluit artikel 4.1a (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 1: Sociale Hygiëne exameneis 1.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 2: Grenzen stellen aan gedrag exameneis 2.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 3: Gespreksvaardigheden exameneis 3.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 4: Risicogedrag bij regelhandhaving exameneis 4.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 5: Gespreksmodellen exameneis 5.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 6: Alcohol exameneis 6.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 7: Drugs exameneis 7.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 8: Tabak exameneis 8.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 9: Gokken exameneis 9.1 (opens in a new window)
- Bijlage II, Eindterm 10: Veiligheidsvoorzieningen exameneis 10.1 (opens in a new window)
Where you take the exam
The SVH does not run its computer exams itself: you choose a provider of computer exams, each with its own locations, and pick the location, date, language and time yourself. You can also take the exam after a course at a training institute; the SVH then holds the exam after the last course day, and the institute registers you for it. The oral exam is available in Dutch, in English, or in your own language with an interpreter.
SDEN (another exam body) also holds Sociale Hygiëne exams, recognised by the Landelijke commissie sociale hygiëne (Lcsh). With an SDEN exam voucher you choose a date and location via Eureka (SDEN's online system); the voucher is valid for 12 months.
- SVH – Questions and answers: ways to take the exam (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- SVH – Questions and answers: exam after a course (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- SVH – Sociale Hygiëne computer exams: format and languages (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- SDEN – Sociale Hygiëne exam (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
Your result
For an SVH exam you can work out your provisional result on svhexamenresultaat.nl, from the day after your exam until 10 working days after it. You can't derive any rights from it. The official result reaches you by post within 10 working days, from the SVH or through the training institute where you took the exam. A fast-track procedure is not possible.
At SDEN you get the provisional result straight after the exam.
Passed: what's next?
Passing the exam alone is not enough to be a manager. With your recognised diploma you register in the Register Sociale Hygiëne. The Dutch Alcohol Act (Alcoholwet) requires managers to have enough knowledge of social hygiene and to be registered in that register.
Frequently asked questions
How many mistakes can I make in the SVH social hygiene exam?
At most 11. The SVH computer exam has 40 questions and you need at least 29 correct.
How long does the exam take?
The SVH computer exam takes 40 minutes.
Can I take the exam in English?
Yes. According to the SVH, its computer exam (taken through the providers it lists) is available in Dutch, English, Modern Standard Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Turkish.
Can I take the exam at Examenzaal?
No. Examenzaal makes practice material, and our Sociale Hygiëne practice exams are in Dutch. You take the real exam with an exam provider, as described above.
This explanation was written by Examenzaal. We use the text version of de Alcoholwet van 12 februari 2025 and het Alcoholbesluit van 1 januari 2026. We checked the information of the Register Sociale Hygiëne on 22 October 2026. Examenzaal is an independent provider of practice material. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
Practise in Dutch
Our Sociale Hygiëne practice exams are in Dutch; there is no English version. Each one has 40 questions. You see your result (pass or fail, your score and the explanation per question) after handing in, with full access: €19.95 incl. VAT, one payment, no subscription.