Dutch law in English
Translations and explanations of Dutch legislation.
Family law
Persons and family law · Titles: 21 · articles: 623
International treaties
- European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Titles: 3 · articles: 59
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Articles: 54
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Articles: 53
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Articles: 50
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Articles: 30
- Protocol No. 1 to the ECHR Articles: 6
- Protocol No. 12 to the ECHR Articles: 6
- European Convention on the Adoption of Children (Revised) Articles: 30
Marriage and partnership
- Matrimonial Property Register Decree 1969 Articles: 9
- Temporary Domestic Exclusion Order Act (Wth) Articles: 17
- Temporary Domestic Exclusion Order Decree Articles: 4
- Equalisation of Pension Rights upon Divorce Act (WVPS) Articles: 13
Parents and children
- Artificial Insemination Donor Data Act (WDKB) Articles: 34
- Artificial Insemination Donor Data Decree Articles: 6
- Paternity DNA Testing Decree Articles: 3
- Custody Registers Decree Articles: 13
- Embryo Act Articles: 36
- Youth Act (Jeugdwet) Chapters: 14 · articles: 223
- Youth Act Decree Chapters: 10 · articles: 139
Name and civil status
- Civil Status Records Decree 1994 Chapters: 3 · articles: 79
- Surname Change Decree Articles: 14
- Rules on petitions for surname change and surname determination Articles: 7
Adult guardianship and protection
- Quality Requirements for Guardians, Administrators and Mentors Decree Chapters: 4 · articles: 15
Inheritance
- Central Wills Register Act (Wctr) Articles: 10
- Estate Register Decree (boedelregister) Articles: 10
- Civil Code — Book 4 (inheritance law) Titles: 6 · articles: 235
Immigration law
Acquisition, grant and loss of Dutch nationality · Chapters: 11 · articles: 39
Entry, residence, asylum, supervision and expulsion · Chapters: 12 · articles: 221
Integration duty, exams, learning routes, loans and supervision · Chapters: 12 · articles: 58
Government decisions and remedies: objection (bezwaar), appeal, time limits, fines — including all IND procedures · Titles: 25 · articles: 553
Secondary legislation
- Aliens Decree 2000 (Vb 2000) Chapters: 12 · articles: 414
- Aliens Regulation 2000 (VV 2000) Chapters: 8 · articles: 227
- Naturalisation Test Decree Articles: 9
- Decree on Acquisition and Loss of Dutch Nationality Chapters: 7 · articles: 84
Policy rules (IND)
- Aliens Circular 2000 — Part A Chapters: 7 · articles: 49
- Aliens Circular 2000 — Part B Chapters: 13 · articles: 91
- Aliens Circular 2000 — Part C Chapters: 9 · articles: 78
- Aliens Circular 2000 — Part D Chapters: 1 · articles: 2
Foreign workers
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act Implementation Decree 2022 (BuWav) Chapters: 13 · articles: 54
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act Implementation Regulation 2022 (RuWav) Articles: 12
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act Notification Regulation Articles: 6
Asylum reception
- Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers Act (COA) Articles: 27
- Asylum Seekers Provisions Regulation 2005 (Rva) Chapters: 8 · articles: 37
- Provisions for Specific Categories of Foreign Nationals Regulation (Rvb) Articles: 14
EU directives
- Directive 2011/98/EU — single permit Chapters: 4 · articles: 19
- Directive 2009/50/EC — EU Blue Card Chapters: 6 · articles: 26
- Directive 2014/36/EU — seasonal workers Chapters: 5 · articles: 31
- Directive 2014/66/EU — intra-corporate transfers (ICT) Chapters: 6 · articles: 30
- Directive (EU) 2016/801 — students and researchers Chapters: 8 · articles: 43
- Directive 2009/52/EC — employer sanctions Articles: 20
Employment law
Title 10: the employment contract (Art. 7:610–7:691) · Titles: 1 · articles: 198
Employee pension schemes and employer obligations · Chapters: 11 · articles: 321
Social assistance and support towards employment · Chapters: 11 · articles: 174
Unemployment benefit: conditions, amount, obligations · Chapters: 13 · articles: 226
Sickness benefit where no employer is liable to continue wages · Chapters: 7 · articles: 203
Long-term incapacity benefits: WGA and IVA · Chapters: 16 · articles: 171
State pension: age, accrual, amount · Chapters: 11 · articles: 108
Mandatory basic insurance, premiums · Chapters: 10 · articles: 175
Secondary legislation
- Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) Chapters: 8 · articles: 72
- Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) Chapters: 12 · articles: 95
- Minimum Wage and Minimum Holiday Allowance Act (WML) Chapters: 5 · articles: 50
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act (WAV) Articles: 52
Leave and flexible working
- Work and Care Act (WAZO) Chapters: 7 · articles: 88
- Flexible Working Act (WFW) Articles: 11
Collective labour law
Agency work and posting
- Placement of Personnel by Intermediaries Act (WAADI) Chapters: 7 · articles: 68
- Terms of Employment of Posted Workers in the EU Act (WagwEU) Chapters: 7 · articles: 34
- Posted Workers Terms of Employment Decree Chapters: 7 · articles: 15
Equal treatment
- General Equal Treatment Act (AWGB) Chapters: 3 · articles: 40
- Equal Treatment (Men and Women) Act (WGB) Articles: 37
- Equal Treatment (Age) in Employment Act (WGBL) Articles: 21
- Equal Treatment (Disability and Chronic Illness) Act (WGBH/CZ) Articles: 26
Dismissal
- Collective Redundancy (Notification) Act (WMCO) Articles: 12
- Dismissal Regulation (Ontslagregeling) Articles: 31
- UWV Dismissal Procedure Regulation Articles: 10
- Dismissal Procedure (Implementing Rules) Decree Articles: 4
- Transition Payment Compensation Regulation Articles: 8
- Compensation on Business Closure Decree Articles: 10
- Transition Payment (Transitional Law) Decree Articles: 7
- Deduction of Costs from Transition Payment Decree Articles: 8
- Wage Definition (Notice and Transition Payments) Decree Articles: 6
- Chain Provision (Special Functions) Regulation Articles: 4
Contract law
Juridical acts, representation, prescription, pledge and mortgage (arts. 3:1–3:326) · Titles: 11 · articles: 310
General law of obligations: performance, liability, torts, general contract law (arts. 6:1–6:279) · Titles: 5 · articles: 340
Sale, lease, services, contracting, suretyship, insurance and more; the employment contract (title 10) is under labour law · Titles: 21 · articles: 707
Older contracts not yet moved to Book 7: partnership (maatschap), loan for use, annuities, gaming and wagering (arts. 1655–2031) · Titles: 10 · articles: 331
Which law applies to cross-border situations: marriage, divorce, succession, contracts, corporations (arts. 10:1–10:167) · Titles: 16 · articles: 168
Tax law
Tax administration and collection
- General State Taxes Act (AWR) Chapters: 14 · articles: 238
- Tax Collection Act 1990 Chapters: 12 · articles: 133
- Income-Dependent Schemes Act (Awir) Chapters: 5 · articles: 87
- Valuation of Immovable Property Act (WOZ) Chapters: 8 · articles: 62
Income and wage tax
- Income Tax Act 2001 Chapters: 14 · articles: 514
- Wage Tax Act 1964 Chapters: 16 · articles: 168
- Box 3 Legal Redress Act Articles: 9
Corporate and dividend tax
- Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 Chapters: 11 · articles: 170
- Dividend Tax Act 1965 Chapters: 6 · articles: 29
- Withholding Tax Act 2021 Chapters: 8 · articles: 27
VAT, transfer taxes and inheritance
- Turnover Tax Act 1968 (VAT) Chapters: 10 · articles: 228
- Legal Transactions Taxation Act (WBR) Chapters: 8 · articles: 64
- Inheritance and Gift Tax Act 1956 Chapters: 15 · articles: 104
- Directive 2006/112/EC — common system of VAT Chapters: 15 · articles: 414
Allowances (toeslagen)
- Healthcare Allowance Act Articles: 9
- Child Budget Act Articles: 13
Corporate law
Associations, foundations, NV and BV: incorporation, corporate organs, liability, accounts, restructuring (arts. 2:1–2:455) · Titles: 10 · articles: 698
KvK business register: registration duty, particulars, access · Chapters: 12 · articles: 89
Rights to a trade name; prohibition of misleading or infringing names · Articles: 16
General (vof) and limited (CV) partnerships, commission agents, bills of exchange and cheques · Titles: 10 · articles: 389
Foreign-incorporated companies operating (almost) wholly in the Netherlands: registration, accounts, directors' liability · Articles: 15
Bankruptcy, suspension of payments (surseance) and debt restructuring for natural persons (WSNP) · Titles: 3 · articles: 636
European entities
- EEIG Implementation Act Articles: 11
- European Company (SE) Implementation Act Chapters: 3 · articles: 27
- European Cooperative Society (SCE) Implementation Act Chapters: 3 · articles: 26
- Employee Involvement in European Legal Entities Act Chapters: 3 · articles: 78
- Voluntary Transfer of Seat (Third Countries) Act Articles: 8
- Kingdom Act on Voluntary Transfer of Seat of Legal Persons Articles: 31
- Kingdom Act on Transfer of Seat by the Government Articles: 12
- Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 — European Company (SE) Chapters: 7 · articles: 70
- Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003 — European Cooperative Society (SCE) Chapters: 9 · articles: 80
Employee participation
- Works Councils Act (WOR) Chapters: 14 · articles: 82
- European Works Councils Act Chapters: 4 · articles: 29
Civil procedure
Procedure before the district courts, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court · Titles: 12 · articles: 466
Enforcement of judgments: attachment, execution against assets · Titles: 7 · articles: 320
Special types of proceedings and protective measures · Titles: 18 · articles: 598
Arbitration in and outside the Netherlands · Titles: 2 · articles: 93
Office and powers of the notary, notarial deeds, fees, supervision and discipline · Titles: 13 · articles: 173
EU private international law
- Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 — Brussels I-bis Chapters: 8 · articles: 81
- Regulation (EC) No 864/2007 — Rome II Chapters: 7 · articles: 32
Media law
Broadcasting and media services
- Media Act 2008 Titles: 31 · articles: 425
- Media Decree 2008 Chapters: 8 · articles: 55
Telecommunications
- Telecommunications Act Chapters: 28 · articles: 380
Government transparency
- Open Government Act (Woo) Chapters: 10 · articles: 112
Data protection
- GDPR Implementation Act (UAVG) Chapters: 5 · articles: 57
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Chapters: 11 · articles: 99
Real estate and construction law
Museums, national collections, monuments, archaeology and export of cultural property · Chapters: 11 · articles: 126
Ownership and registers
- Civil Code — Book 5 Titles: 9 · articles: 150
- Land Registry Act Titles: 9 · articles: 179
Building and environment
- Environment and Planning Act Chapters: 19 · articles: 734
- Housing Act Chapters: 10 · articles: 296
Residential rent
- Housing Allocation Act 2014 Chapters: 8 · articles: 65
- Vacant Property Act Chapters: 7 · articles: 21
- Housing Benefit Act Chapters: 11 · articles: 80
- Residential Rent (Implementation) Act Chapters: 8 · articles: 95
- Good Landlordship Act (2023) Chapters: 9 · articles: 34
- Affordable Rent Act (2024) Articles: 9
- Affordable Rent Decree Articles: 6
- Housing Rent Decree (points system) Articles: 19
- Minor Repairs Decree Articles: 3
- Service Charges Decree Articles: 3
- Tenants-Landlord Consultation Act Chapters: 4 · articles: 18
Intellectual property
International treaties
- Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works Articles: 47
- Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property Articles: 46
- European Patent Convention (EPC) Chapters: 5 · articles: 185
- TRIPS Agreement — trade-related aspects of intellectual property Titles: 8 · articles: 74
Copyright and related rights
- Copyright Act Chapters: 10 · articles: 170
- Neighbouring Rights Act Chapters: 7 · articles: 64
- Databases Act Articles: 4
Industrial property
- Patents Act 1995 Chapters: 9 · articles: 159
- Trade Secrets Protection Act Chapters: 5 · articles: 13
- Benelux Convention on Intellectual Property (BCIP) Titles: 15 · articles: 137
EU trade marks and designs
- EU Trade Mark Regulation 2017/1001 Chapters: 14 · articles: 212
- Community Designs Regulation 6/2002 Chapters: 12 · articles: 111
- Regulation (EU) 2024/2822 — EU designs reform Articles: 3
EU intellectual property directives
- Directive (EU) 2019/790 — copyright in the Digital Single Market Chapters: 5 · articles: 32
- Directive 2001/29/EC — copyright in the information society Chapters: 4 · articles: 15
- Directive 2004/48/EC — enforcement of IP rights Chapters: 5 · articles: 22
EU digital regulations
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 — Artificial Intelligence Act Chapters: 13 · articles: 113
- Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 — Digital Services Act Chapters: 5 · articles: 93
Criminal law
Criminal Code
- Criminal Code (Sr) Titles: 36 · articles: 747
Criminal procedure
- Code of Criminal Procedure (Sv) Titles: 40 · articles: 1260
Special criminal statutes
- Economic Offences Act (WED) Titles: 14 · articles: 96
- Opium Act Articles: 44
- Weapons and Ammunition Act (WWM) Articles: 74
- Anti-Money Laundering Act (Wwft) Chapters: 7 · articles: 115
Investigation and prosecution
- Entry into Dwellings Act Articles: 15
- Police Act 2012 Chapters: 9 · articles: 146
- Public Prosecutor Disposal Decree Chapters: 5 · articles: 21
- DNA Testing in Criminal Cases Decree Articles: 29
- Victims of Crime Decree Chapters: 7 · articles: 21
Traffic law
- Road Traffic Act 1994 Chapters: 25 · articles: 400
- Traffic Rules and Signs Regulation (RVV 1990) Chapters: 16 · articles: 149
- Administrative Traffic Enforcement Act (Mulder) Chapters: 11 · articles: 59
- Alcohol, Drugs and Medicines in Traffic Decree Articles: 25
International cooperation in criminal matters
- Surrender Act (European Arrest Warrant) Chapters: 5 · articles: 86
- Extradition Act Chapters: 6 · articles: 74
- Transfer of Sentence Enforcement Act (WOTS) Chapters: 5 · articles: 88
- Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sanctions Act (WETS) Chapters: 5 · articles: 73
- Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties Act Chapters: 4 · articles: 47
Detention and enforcement
- Custodial Institutions Act (Pbw) Chapters: 26 · articles: 130
- Custodial Institutions Decree Chapters: 17 · articles: 95
- TBS Detainees Act Chapters: 22 · articles: 96
- TBS Care Regulation Chapters: 23 · articles: 103
- Juvenile Institutions Act Chapters: 22 · articles: 122
- Juvenile Institutions Regulation Chapters: 21 · articles: 104
Judiciary
- Judiciary Organisation Act Chapters: 7 · articles: 221