# Dutch — Litigation and Settlement Sub-Lexicon

Auto-generated from translation experience. Maps Dutch civil, administrative, and
criminal litigation vocabulary to their correct English equivalents. Dutch civil
procedure is governed by the Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering (Rv); criminal
procedure by the Wetboek van Strafvordering (Sv) and Wetboek van Strafrecht (Sr);
administrative procedure by the Algemene wet bestuursrecht (Awb).

## Court Structure (Rechterlijke Organisatie)

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| rechterlijke macht | judiciary | |
| rechtbank | district court | First-instance civil, criminal, administrative |
| kantonrechter | sub-district judge | Within rechtbank; lease, labour, small-claim, consumer cases |
| gerechtshof | court of appeal | Four hoven: Amsterdam, Arnhem-Leeuwarden, Den Haag, 's-Hertogenbosch |
| Hoge Raad der Nederlanden (HR) | Supreme Court of the Netherlands | Cassation; civil, criminal, tax |
| Raad van State, Afdeling bestuursrechtspraak (ABRvS) | Council of State, Administrative Jurisdiction Division | Highest general administrative court |
| Centrale Raad van Beroep (CRvB) | Central Appeals Tribunal | Social security and civil service appeals |
| College van Beroep voor het bedrijfsleven (CBb) | Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal | Economic/competition/agricultural matters |
| Ondernemingskamer (OK) | Enterprise Chamber | Part of Gerechtshof Amsterdam; corporate inquiries |
| Netherlands Commercial Court (NCC) | Netherlands Commercial Court | English-language commercial chamber in Amsterdam; operative since 2019 |
| voorzieningenrechter | judge in preliminary relief | |
| rechter-commissaris (R-C) | examining magistrate / investigating judge | In bankruptcy and criminal matters |

## Parties and Representation

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| partij | party | |
| eiser | claimant / plaintiff | |
| gedaagde | defendant | |
| verzoeker | applicant / petitioner | In verzoekschriftprocedure |
| verweerder | respondent | |
| tussenkomende partij / interveniërende partij | intervening party | |
| voegende partij | joining party (supporting a party) | |
| derde / belanghebbende | third party / interested party | |
| advocaat | attorney / advocate / lawyer | Qualified member of the Bar |
| procureur | formerly: local procureur | Abolished 2008; advocaten nationally admitted |
| rechtsbijstandverlener | legal aid provider | |
| deurwaarder / gerechtsdeurwaarder | bailiff / court bailiff | Serves writs, enforces judgments |
| gemachtigde | representative / agent | Often non-advocate for kantonrechter matters |
| pro se / in persoon | in person / pro se | Kantonrechter matters and some administrative matters |

## Civil Procedure — Pleadings and Procedure

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering (Rv) | Dutch Code of Civil Procedure | |
| dagvaarding | writ of summons | Initiates main civil proceedings |
| verzoekschrift | petition / application | Initiates verzoekschriftprocedure |
| exploot | writ / official document | |
| inleidende dagvaarding | initial writ of summons | |
| conclusie van antwoord | statement of defence | |
| conclusie van repliek | statement of reply | |
| conclusie van dupliek | statement of rejoinder | |
| akte | deed / procedural filing | |
| akteverzoek | request for procedural filing | |
| eiswijziging / vermeerdering van eis | amendment / extension of claim | |
| voorwaardelijke eis in reconventie | conditional counterclaim | |
| eis in reconventie | counterclaim | |
| vonnis | judgment | First-instance |
| arrest | judgment | Of appellate court (Hof or HR) |
| beschikking | order / decision | In verzoekschrift and summary matters |
| tussenvonnis / tussenbeschikking | interlocutory / interim judgment | |
| eindvonnis | final judgment | |
| comparitie / mondelinge behandeling | hearing / oral treatment | Merged in 2017 modernisation (Wet KEI) |
| regiezitting | case management hearing | |
| getuigenverhoor | witness examination | |
| deskundigenbericht | expert report | |
| descente / bezichtiging ter plaatse | view / site visit | |
| pleidooi | oral pleading | Less common since 2017 reforms |
| proceskosten | litigation costs | |
| liquidatietarief | liquidation tariff | Scale determining fixed-cost awards |

## Evidence (Bewijsrecht)

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| bewijs | evidence / proof | |
| stelplicht | duty to set out facts | The party must adequately plead the facts before evidence applies |
| bewijslast | burden of proof | BW and Rv |
| omkering van bewijslast | reversal of burden of proof | |
| wettelijk vermoeden | statutory presumption | |
| vrije bewijswaardering | free evaluation of evidence | Art. 152 Rv — judge weighs freely |
| dwingend bewijs | conclusive evidence | E.g., authentic deeds under Art. 157 Rv |
| tegenbewijs | counter-evidence / rebutting evidence | |
| akte (schriftelijk bewijs) | document / written evidence | |
| authentieke akte | authentic deed / notarial deed | |
| onderhandse akte | private deed / private writing | |
| getuige | witness | |
| getuigenverklaring | witness statement / testimony | |
| partijgetuige | party-witness | Limited probative weight (Art. 164 Rv) |
| deskundige | expert | |
| voorlopig getuigenverhoor / voorlopig deskundigenbericht | preliminary witness hearing / expert report | Art. 186, 202 Rv |
| exhibitieplicht (art. 843a Rv) | document production duty | Limited disclosure against counterparty or third party |

## Provisional and Urgent Relief

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| kort geding | preliminary relief proceedings | Fast-track summary proceedings |
| spoedeisend belang | urgent interest / urgency | Threshold for kort geding |
| ordemaatregel / voorlopige voorziening | order / provisional measure | |
| verbod / gebod | prohibition / mandatory order | Injunction |
| dwangsom | penalty payment | Art. 611a Rv — periodic penalty to enforce compliance |
| lijfsdwang | imprisonment for debt / civil detention | Rare |
| beslag | attachment / seizure | |
| conservatoir beslag | prejudgment attachment | Pre-judgment security measure |
| executoriaal beslag | enforcement attachment | After judgment |
| derdenbeslag | garnishment / attachment in the hands of third party | |
| maritaal beslag | marital attachment | In matrimonial property cases |
| beslagrekest | leave to attach / attachment request | Filed before voorzieningenrechter |

## Judgments, Appeal and Cassation

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| toewijzing / afwijzing | grant / denial | |
| ontvankelijk / niet-ontvankelijk | admissible / inadmissible | |
| gegrond / ongegrond | well-founded / unfounded | |
| proceskostenveroordeling | order to pay costs | |
| uitvoerbaar bij voorraad | provisionally enforceable | Enforceable pending appeal |
| hoger beroep | appeal (to court of appeal) | |
| appellant / geïntimeerde | appellant / respondent | |
| grief | ground of appeal | |
| memorie van grieven | statement of appeal grounds | |
| memorie van antwoord | statement of defence on appeal | |
| incidenteel appel | incidental / cross-appeal | |
| cassatie | cassation / review on points of law | HR — no factual review |
| cassatieberoep | cassation appeal | |
| cassatiemiddel | cassation ground | |
| vernietiging en verwijzing | setting aside and remission | |
| derdenverzet | third-party opposition | Rare |
| verzet (tegen verstekvonnis) | opposition / setting aside of default judgment | |
| verstek | default | |
| herroeping | revocation / rescission of judgment | Art. 382 Rv — for fraud, forgery, etc. |
| cassatie in het belang der wet | cassation in the interest of uniform law | No retroactive effect on parties |

## Enforcement of Judgments

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| executie / tenuitvoerlegging | enforcement / execution | |
| executoriale titel | enforceable title | |
| grosse | enforceable copy | Formal certified judgment |
| betekening | service | |
| bevel tot betaling | payment order | |
| openbare verkoop | public sale | |
| beslag onder derden | garnishee attachment | |
| derde-beslagene | garnishee | |
| schuldsanering / WSNP | statutory debt restructuring | Natural persons; not criminal |
| faillissement | bankruptcy | |
| curator | bankruptcy trustee | |
| rechter-commissaris | supervisory judge | Bankruptcy court supervisor |

## Collective Actions and Class Claims

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WAMCA (Wet afwikkeling massaschade in collectieve actie) | Collective Damages Act | 2020 — allows representative actions for damages |
| 3:305a BW-organisatie | representative organisation | Must meet governance, expertise, finance requirements |
| exclusieve belangenbehartiger | exclusive representative | Lead claimant in WAMCA |
| nauwe band-vereiste | close connection requirement | Jurisdictional test for WAMCA |
| opt-in / opt-out | opt-in / opt-out | WAMCA allows opt-out for Dutch residents; opt-in for others |
| collectieve schikking (WCAM) | collective settlement | Wet collectieve afwikkeling massaschade — global binding settlement declared enforceable by Amsterdam Court of Appeal |
| WCAM-verzoek | WCAM petition | |
| verbindendverklaring | declaration binding | Court declares collective settlement binding on all class members |
| centraal register collectieve vorderingen | Central Register of Collective Claims | |

## Administrative Procedure (Bestuursrecht)

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Algemene wet bestuursrecht (Awb) | General Administrative Law Act | |
| bestuursorgaan | administrative body / authority | |
| besluit | administrative decision / order | |
| beschikking (Awb) | individual decision | |
| algemene regels | general rules / rules of general application | |
| bezwaar | objection | Administrative review before the same body — mandatory precursor to litigation |
| bezwaarschrift | notice of objection | |
| bezwaarschriftencommissie | Advisory Committee on Objections | |
| heroverweging | reconsideration | |
| beroep bij de bestuursrechter | appeal to administrative court | |
| beroepschrift | notice of appeal | |
| hoger beroep (ABRvS/CRvB/CBb) | higher administrative appeal | |
| voorlopige voorziening bij de bestuursrechter | preliminary relief (administrative) | Art. 8:81 Awb |
| belanghebbende | interested party | Awb Art. 1:2 — standing threshold |
| vergunning | permit | |
| weigering / verlening | refusal / grant | |
| handhaving | enforcement | |
| last onder dwangsom | order subject to periodic penalty | Awb Art. 5:31d |
| last onder bestuursdwang | order of administrative coercion | Awb Art. 5:21 |
| bestuurlijke boete | administrative fine | |
| Wet openbaarheid van bestuur (Wob) — now Woo | Government Information (Public Access) Act — now Open Government Act | Woo — Wet open overheid — in force 1 May 2022 |
| Woo-verzoek | Woo request / FOI request | |
| algemeen belang | public interest | |
| evenredigheidsbeginsel | proportionality principle | Awb Art. 3:4 — strengthened after 2022 Harderwijk / toeslagen case law |
| motiveringsbeginsel | duty to give reasons | Awb Art. 3:46 |
| zorgvuldigheidsbeginsel | duty of care | Awb Art. 3:2 |
| vertrouwensbeginsel | principle of legitimate expectations | |
| gelijkheidsbeginsel | equality principle | |
| formele / materiële rechtskracht | formal / substantive finality | Doctrine that administrative decision, once unappealed, binds in civil proceedings |

## Criminal Procedure (Strafprocesrecht)

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wetboek van Strafvordering (Sv) | Code of Criminal Procedure | |
| Wetboek van Strafrecht (Sr) | Criminal Code | |
| openbaar ministerie (OM) | Public Prosecution Service | |
| officier van justitie | public prosecutor | |
| advocaat-generaal (AG) | advocate general | At HR in criminal matters |
| verdachte | suspect | |
| aangifte | report / complaint | Filed by victim |
| opsporingsonderzoek | investigation / detection | |
| getuige à charge / à décharge | prosecution / defence witness | |
| aanhouding | arrest | |
| inverzekeringstelling | police custody | Up to 3 days |
| voorlopige hechtenis | pre-trial detention | |
| bewaring / gevangenhouding / gevangenneming | remand in custody (phased) | |
| dagvaarding (strafzaak) | indictment | |
| tenlastelegging | charge | |
| requisitoir | closing speech for the prosecution | |
| laatste woord | last word | Right of the defendant before judgment |
| beraadslaging | deliberation | |
| vonnis / arrest (strafzaak) | judgment (criminal) | |
| vrijspraak / ontslag van rechtsvervolging / veroordeling | acquittal / discharge / conviction | |
| straf / maatregel | penalty / measure | |
| gevangenisstraf / hechtenis | imprisonment / detention | Gevangenisstraf for misdrijven; hechtenis for overtredingen |
| taakstraf | community service | |
| geldboete | fine | |
| TBS (terbeschikkingstelling) | placement under hospital order | Measure for dangerous mentally ill offenders |
| schikking / transactie (strafzaak) | out-of-court settlement | Art. 74 Sr — allows prosecutor to avoid trial |
| strafbeschikking | penal order | OM-issued finding of guilt |
| hoger beroep (strafzaak) | appeal (criminal) | To gerechtshof |
| cassatie in strafzaken | cassation in criminal cases | |
| herziening | review / revision | Post-conviction remedy for newly discovered evidence |

## Settlement, ADR and Out-of-Court Resolution

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| vaststellingsovereenkomst | settlement agreement | BW 7:900 — binds parties to end or prevent uncertainty |
| schikking | settlement | |
| minnelijke regeling | amicable settlement | |
| schikkingsvoorstel | settlement offer | |
| mediation | mediation | |
| mediator | mediator | |
| Mediators federatie Nederland (MfN) | Mediators Federation Netherlands | |
| MfN-reglement | MfN rules | |
| arbitrage | arbitration | |
| arbiter | arbitrator | |
| arbitragereglement | arbitration rules | |
| NAI (Nederlands Arbitrage Instituut) | Netherlands Arbitration Institute | Main Dutch institutional arbitration body |
| Arbitragewet 2015 (Boek 4 Rv) | Arbitration Act 2015 | Book 4 of Code of Civil Procedure |
| bindend advies | binding advice | Non-arbitration ADR — judicially reviewable under BW 7:900 |
| geschillencommissie | disputes committee | Consumer complaints body |
| verstekprocedure (arbitrage) | default arbitration | |
| New York-verdrag (1958) | New York Convention (1958) | For enforcement of foreign arbitral awards |

## Limitation and Time Bars

| Dutch | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| verjaring | limitation / prescription | |
| stuiting van verjaring | interruption of limitation | BW 3:317 |
| verjaringstermijn | limitation period | |
| rechtsverwerking | forfeiture of rights | Case-law based; distinct from verjaring |
| termijn | time limit / deadline | |
| vervaltermijn | forfeiture period | Distinct from verjaring — absolute, no interruption |
| klachttermijn | complaint period | BW 6:89 / 7:23 |

## Notes for Translators

- **Dagvaarding vs verzoekschrift**: Dutch civil procedure has two main routes. Dagvaarding (writ of summons) — for most civil matters where a judicial writ starts the action. Verzoekschrift (petition) — for family, employment (until 2020 reforms), probate, and some corporate matters. Different timelines, different terminology for parties (eiser/gedaagde vs verzoeker/verweerder). Always identify the procedure and translate consistently.
- **Kort geding**: Signature Dutch procedural instrument. Fast-track relief proceedings (often result within 4 weeks) before the voorzieningenrechter on ground of "spoedeisend belang" (urgent interest). Used heavily for IP, unfair competition, contract enforcement. Translate as "preliminary relief proceedings" with gloss — never just "summary proceedings" (too narrow).
- **Vonnis vs arrest vs beschikking**: Vonnis = first-instance judgment (dagvaardingsprocedure). Arrest = judgment of gerechtshof or HR. Beschikking = order/decision (verzoekschriftprocedure, small matters, bankruptcy). Three distinct terms with three distinct rules. Never flatten to "judgment".
- **Hoger beroep vs cassatie**: Hoger beroep = full appeal to gerechtshof (factual + legal review). Cassatie = review by Hoge Raad on points of law only (no factual review). Fundamentally different nature. Translate as "appeal" and "cassation" respectively.
- **Ondernemingskamer (OK)**: Specialised corporate chamber within the Gerechtshof Amsterdam. Jurisdiction over inquiry proceedings (enquêteprocedure), director dismissal, statutory dispute resolution (geschillenregeling), squeeze-out. Unique Dutch institution. Translate as "Enterprise Chamber" (standard English rendering).
- **Netherlands Commercial Court (NCC)**: English-language commercial chamber operative since January 2019 at Rechtbank Amsterdam and Gerechtshof Amsterdam. Jurisdiction by party agreement for international commercial disputes over EUR 25,000. Translate as "Netherlands Commercial Court" — preserve English name.
- **Awb / bestuursrecht**: Dutch administrative law consolidated in Awb. Mandatory "bezwaar" (objection to administrative body itself) before appeal to bestuursrechter. Belanghebbende-test for standing. Different principles from civil litigation (evenredigheid, zorgvuldigheid, motivering). Never translate administrative procedure using civil terminology.
- **Woo (Wet open overheid)**: Replaced Wob in May 2022. Broader disclosure obligations. Translate as "Open Government Act" — flag transition if document pre-2022.
- **WAMCA (2020)**: Major reform enabling class actions for damages (previously restricted to declaratory/injunctive). Registered representative organisation with exclusive status, opt-out for Dutch-domiciled. Translate as "Collective Damages Act"; always flag WAMCA applicability.
- **WCAM (2005)**: Global-binding settlement mechanism. Settlement declared binding on whole class by Gerechtshof Amsterdam; class members have opt-out right. Used in Converium, Shell, Fortis mass tort cases. Distinct from WAMCA (which enables litigation; WCAM enables settlement).
- **Vaststellingsovereenkomst (BW 7:900)**: Dutch settlement-agreement instrument. Binding even if based on mistaken understanding of the law. Commonly used to settle civil and commercial disputes. Translate as "settlement agreement"; explain binding nature.
- **Dwangsom (Art. 611a Rv)**: Judicial penalty payment to coerce compliance with judgment. Must be requested — not automatic. Distinct from contractual boete. Translate as "penalty payment" or "astreinte" (civilian) with gloss.
- **Bewijslast / stelplicht**: Dutch evidence law has two distinct burdens: stelplicht (duty to set out facts adequately in pleadings) and bewijslast (burden of proof if facts contested). Stelplicht comes first — inadequate pleading means no evidence will be taken. Translate stelplicht as "duty to set out facts" or "pleading burden"; never flatten into "burden of proof".
- **Verjaring vs vervaltermijn vs klachttermijn**: Three distinct limitation concepts. Verjaring = prescription, interruptible by acts of interruption (e.g., written reminder). Vervaltermijn = forfeiture period, absolute (no interruption, no extension). Klachttermijn = duty to complain (BW 6:89, 7:23) — if silent, rights can be lost. All three important — never conflate.
- **Advocaat vs procureur**: Pre-2008 reform, parties needed local procureur plus advocaat. Since Wet afschaffing procuraat (2008), advocaten have national admission. Translate "advocaat" as "attorney", "lawyer", or "advocate" (per audience); "procureur" only in historical context.
- **OM / Officier van justitie**: Openbaar Ministerie (Public Prosecution Service) is the umbrella; officier van justitie is the individual prosecutor. At Hoge Raad, the role is advocaat-generaal (AG). Translate consistently and identify institutional level.
- **TBS (terbeschikkingstelling)**: Dutch criminal-law measure for dangerous mentally ill offenders — indefinite secure treatment distinct from imprisonment. Unique Dutch institution. Translate as "TBS-order" or "placement under hospital order" with gloss.
- **Strafbeschikking / transactie**: Two out-of-court criminal resolution mechanisms. Strafbeschikking = OM-issued penal order, finding of guilt (since 2008). Transactie = older, pre-2008 mechanism, avoids finding of guilt. Both avoid trial but have different legal status. Flag and translate carefully.
- **Arbitragewet 2015 / NAI**: Major modernisation of Dutch arbitration law in 2015 (now Book 4 Rv). NAI (Netherlands Arbitration Institute) is the main institutional body. Amsterdam is increasingly used as arbitration seat. Translate as "Arbitration Act 2015" and "Netherlands Arbitration Institute".
- **Bindend advies vs arbitrage**: Dutch ADR distinguishes bindend advies (binding expert determination — reviewable for manifest error under BW 7:904) from arbitrage (arbitration — award with New York Convention enforceability). Different regimes — never confuse. Translate bindend advies as "binding advice" with gloss; arbitrage as "arbitration".
- **Proceskostenveroordeling / liquidatietarief**: Dutch costs regime is not full indemnity — recoverable costs are capped by a judge-set fixed tariff (liquidatietarief) except in IP matters (full costs per Art. 1019h Rv) and some other specific domains. Translate faithfully and flag cost-recovery limits.
- **Belgian civil procedure**: Governed by Gerechtelijk Wetboek (GerW) / Code judiciaire — different numbering and terminology from Dutch Rv. Belgian uses "kort geding" similarly to Dutch. Belgian appeal goes to Hof van Beroep / Cour d'appel; cassation to Hof van Cassatie / Cour de cassation. Flag Belgian documents.
- **Belgian administrative procedure**: Governed by coordinated laws on Raad van State / Conseil d'État. Different from Dutch Awb regime — Belgian has unified administrative high court (Raad van State, Afdeling Bestuursrechtspraak). Flag Belgian administrative documents.
- **Belgian criminal procedure**: Belgian uses Wetboek van Strafvordering / Code d'instruction criminelle (Napoleonic) and Strafwetboek / Code pénal. Investigating magistrate (onderzoeksrechter / juge d'instruction) plays larger role than Dutch R-C. Different terminology.
