Legislation

The most important Act of Dutch civil law is undoubtedly the Civil Code (DCC), largely revised in 1992. It methodically deals with the core areas of national private law and is for this purpose classified in ten different Books:

*) Book 7a contains statutory provisons of the old Dutch Civil Code (in force prior to 1992) that have to be converted still.

**) Book 9 is reserved for the law on intellectual property rights. If, or when, it will be included in the Dutch Civil Code, remains uncertain. A reference is made on this website to translations in English of the various Dutch Acts on intellectual property rights (click on 'Civil Code' and, subsequently, on 'Book 9' in the left frame).

Besides the Civil Code, there are other noteworthy Acts, like the Code of Commerce, the Bankruptcy Act, the Financial Supervision Act and the Competition Act. Many Orders in Council and Decrees give more detailed provisions for specific subjects regulated in the Dutch Civil Code and other Acts.

The body of law that sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits, is to be found in the Code of Civil Procedure. With regard to questions of national and, when no European Regulation or Convention is applicable, of international jurisdiction, Book 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides several basic rules.

Very useful is the 'Dutch Treaty Data Base' run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On this website you'll find, in English, all Treaties (Conventions) to which the Netherlands are a party, and up-to-date information about the content of these Treaties, other participating States and additional declarations.