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Civil Lawyer

Civil law (burgerlijk recht) is the foundation of the Dutch legal system. It governs the rights and obligations of individuals, companies, and organisations in their legal relationships with each other — covering everything from contracts and property to liability, inheritance, and debt collection. Where criminal law concerns offences against society, civil law addresses wrongs between private parties and provides the legal mechanisms to remedy them.

Whether you are a business owner facing a contract dispute, an individual wronged by another person, a creditor pursuing an unpaid debt, or a company defending a liability claim, you need a civil lawyer who knows Dutch civil law in depth and who can advise you clearly on your legal position, your options, and your realistic prospects.

Law & More’s civil lawyers are experienced litigators and advisers with expertise across all major areas of Dutch civil law. We operate from Eindhoven and Amsterdam and assist both Dutch and international clients — from individuals and SMEs to larger companies and multinationals.

Our civil law services include:

  • Contract law: disputes, non-performance, and termination
  • Liability law: tortious acts (onrechtmatige daad), product liability, and professional liability
  • Debt collection: dunning procedures, kort geding, and enforcement
  • Property and goods law (goederenrecht)
  • Corporate and commercial disputes between shareholders and business partners
  • Neighbour law and property boundary disputes
  • Privacy and defamation claims
  • Interim relief (kort geding) and injunctions
  • Mediation and alternative dispute resolution
  • Enforcement of Dutch and foreign judgments

Contract Law

Contracts are the backbone of commercial and personal legal life. When a contract is breached — or when parties disagree about what was agreed — civil litigation is often the result. Dutch contract law is governed primarily by Book 6 of the Burgerlijk Wetboek (BW), supplemented by specific rules for named contracts (koop, huur, aanneming, opdracht) in Book 7 BW.

Law & More advises and litigates on all aspects of contract law, from the initial drafting and review of agreements to enforcing or defending against contractual claims in court.

We assist with:

  • Drafting and reviewing contracts: purchase agreements, service agreements, shareholder agreements, agency contracts, and more
  • Assessing whether a valid contract exists: offer, acceptance, capacity, and consent
  • Non-performance (wanprestatie): when a party fails to deliver what was agreed
  • Termination of contracts: dissolution (ontbinding) and rescission (vernietiging)
  • Unfair contract terms and the applicability of general terms and conditions (algemene voorwaarden)
  • Force majeure and unforeseen circumstances (onvoorziene omstandigheden, Article 6:258 BW)
  • Contractual liability and limitation of liability clauses
  • Claims for damages following breach of contract
  • Disputes about delivery, quality, and conformity of goods and services
  • Pre-contractual liability: culpa in contrahendo and broken-off negotiations
  • Agency, distribution, and franchise law
Tom Meevis

Tom Meevis

MANAGING PARTNER / ADVOCATE

[email protected]

Law firm in Eindhoven and Amsterdam

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Liability Law

Liability law (aansprakelijkheidsrecht) determines who is legally responsible when harm occurs — whether as a result of a breach of contract, a tortious act, or strict liability imposed by law. Claims for damages are among the most common and most financially significant civil disputes in the Netherlands.

We advise and litigate on:

Tort law (onrechtmatige daad, Article 6:162 BW):

  • Personal injury claims: traffic accidents, workplace accidents, and medical negligence
  • Property damage claims
  • Economic loss claims resulting from wrongful conduct
  • Calculating and claiming damages: direct loss, lost profit, and consequential damage
  • Contribution and recourse claims between co-defendants

Professional liability:

  • Claims against accountants, financial advisers, and notaries
  • Claims against contractors and architects for construction defects
  • Medical liability and healthcare provider claims
  • Director and officer liability (bestuurdersaansprakelijkheid) in company law

Product liability:

  • Claims against manufacturers for defective products
  • The revised EU Product Liability Directive and its impact on Dutch law
  • Recall obligations and regulatory enforcement

Other liability areas:

  • Employer liability for workplace accidents and occupational diseases (Article 7:658 BW)
  • Government liability (overheidsaansprakelijkheid) for unlawful government decisions
  • Liability for animals and hazardous substances

Debt Collection and Enforcement

Unpaid invoices and outstanding debts are a persistent problem for businesses of all sizes. A robust debt collection strategy — combining clear contractual terms, timely extrajudicial demands, and, where necessary, swift legal action — is essential to protect your cash flow.

Law & More handles debt collection from the initial demand letter through to enforcement, including attachment of assets and salary garnishment.

Our debt collection services:

  • Drafting effective demand letters (aanmaningen/ingebrekestellingen)
  • Extrajudicial debt collection in compliance with the Wet Incassokosten (WIK)
  • Summary proceedings (kort geding) for urgent payment claims
  • Standard civil proceedings (dagvaardingsprocedure) for disputed claims
  • European Payment Order for cross-border claims
  • Obtaining and enforcing default judgments (verstekvonnissen)
  • Attachment of bank accounts (conservatoir bankbeslag) and real property
  • Salary and receivables garnishment (loonbeslag and derdenbeslag)
  • Insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings as a creditor
  • Negotiating payment plans and debt restructuring agreements
  • International debt collection within the EU and beyond

Property & Goods Law

Property law (goederenrecht) — governed by Books 3 and 5 of the Dutch Burgerlijk Wetboek — determines who owns what, how ownership can be transferred, and what limited property rights (such as pledges, mortgages, easements, and usufructs) can be established over property. It forms the legal foundation for virtually all commercial and real estate transactions.

We advise and litigate on:

  • Ownership disputes: who owns the asset, and how can ownership be proven?
  • Transfer of ownership: delivery (levering) and title requirements
  • Movable and immovable property: the legal differences and consequences
  • Pledges (pandrecht) and mortgages (hypotheek): creation, enforcement, and priority
  • Retention of title (eigendomsvoorbehoud) in commercial transactions
  • Usufruct (vruchtgebruik) and right of use (gebruiksrecht)
  • Easements (erfdienstbaarheden): creation, scope, and enforcement
  • Ground lease (erfpacht) and building rights (opstalrecht)
  • Communal property disputes: co-ownership and division of jointly owned assets
  • Claims for return of wrongfully held goods (revindicatie)
  • Unjust enrichment claims (ongerechtvaardigde verrijking, Article 6:212 BW)

Neighbour Law & Property Damage

Disputes between neighbours are among the most common civil law matters — and often among the most personal and acrimonious. Dutch neighbour law (burenrecht, Articles 5:37–5:59 BW) provides specific rules about boundaries, overhanging branches, light and view, noise, and nuisance. But many neighbour disputes go beyond the specific burenrecht rules and involve broader tort law or property law principles.

We advise and litigate on:

  • Boundary disputes: cadastral boundaries and possession claims
  • Unlawful nuisance between neighbours (hinder, Article 5:37 BW)
  • Overhanging branches, encroaching roots, and encroaching structures
  • Right of passage and access to adjacent land (noodweg, Article 5:57 BW)
  • Easements: creation, scope, and enforcement between neighbouring owners
  • Construction works affecting neighbouring properties
  • Claims for property damage caused by neighbours, contractors, or third parties
  • VvE disputes in apartment buildings
  • Water run-off and drainage disputes
  • Injunctions to stop ongoing nuisance (kort geding)

Privacy and Unlawful Publications

In the digital age, civil law increasingly intersects with privacy and reputation law. A wrongful publication, a defamatory online review, unlawful data processing, or an unjustified credit registration can cause serious harm — financial and personal. Civil law provides effective remedies, including injunctions, damages, and forced corrections.

We advise and litigate on:

  • Defamation claims (smaad, laster, belediging) in both traditional and online media
  • Wrongful online reviews and how to have them removed
  • Right to be forgotten requests under GDPR, including Google delisting
  • Unlawful publication of personal data or private images
  • Credit registration disputes: contesting wrongful BKR registrations
  • Privacy tort claims under Article 6:162 BW and Article 8 ECHR
  • Emergency injunctions (kort geding) to stop harmful publications
  • Claims against social media platforms for failing to remove unlawful content
  • Reputational damage claims following incorrect reporting

Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Litigation is not always the best solution to a civil dispute. Court proceedings are time-consuming, costly, and unpredictable — and they often damage relationships that might otherwise be preserved. In many cases, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) offers a faster, more cost-effective, and more satisfying outcome for all parties.

Law & More advises and represents clients in all forms of dispute resolution and helps you choose the approach most likely to achieve your goals.

Our dispute resolution services include:

  • Mediation: independent facilitated negotiation with the aim of reaching a binding settlement
  • Arbitration: private adjudication under institutional rules (NAI, ICC, or ad hoc)
  • Binding advice (bindend advies)
  • Pre-litigation negotiation and settlement drafting
  • Summary proceedings (kort geding) for urgent interlocutory relief
  • First instance proceedings before the District Court (Rechtbank)
  • Appeal proceedings before the Court of Appeal (Gerechtshof)
  • Cassation proceedings before the Supreme Court (Hoge Raad)
  • Cross-border enforcement of Dutch judgments in Europe (Brussels I bis Regulation)
  • Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in the Netherlands

Frequently Asked Questions

A civil lawyer handles disputes between individuals, businesses, and organizations in the field of civil law. This includes: contract disputes, liability cases (personal injury, professional errors), debt collection, neighbor disputes, consumer law, law of obligations, tort law, and general civil procedures in courts and appeals. We litigate and negotiate to protect your legal position and resolve disputes, both outside and inside the courtroom.

We apply a transparent hourly rate of €295 excl. VAT. Costs vary per case: assessment of dispute and advice letter €500-€1,500, collection procedure €1,000-€2,500, contract dispute with negotiations €2,500-€7,500, and complex liability cases or appeals can cost €10,000-€50,000+ depending on duration and complexity. For some personal injury cases we work on a no win no fee basis. We always discuss realistic costs and options upfront.

Hire a lawyer for: rejected liability claims, contract breaches with significant financial consequences, imminent or ongoing legal proceedings, complex legal issues, when negotiations stall, or power imbalance with the opposing party (large companies, insurers). Early legal advice often prevents costly mistakes and increases your chances of a favorable outcome. We offer a free assessment of whether legal assistance adds value in your situation.

Criminal law concerns prosecution of criminal offenses by the government (Public Prosecution Service), with possible imprisonment or community service. Civil law governs disputes between citizens/businesses, where you can claim damages, contract performance, or other civil remedies. One event can have both aspects: a car accident leads to criminal prosecution (drunk driving) and civil damage claim. We handle only civil cases, not criminal defense.

Collection starts with extrajudicial demand (payment reminder, formal notice). If unpaid, a summons follows in court claiming payment plus interest and costs. For recognized debts (invoices, contracts), chances of success are high. The court can seize assets or wages. The problem is often that the debtor cannot pay (insolvent). We assess feasibility upfront and prevent costly procedures for hopeless collection.

Many neighbor disputes concern: nuisance (noise, odor), boundaries and easements, maintenance of boundary fences, trees and root encroachment, or construction work. Steps: first neighbor consultation, then mediation or neighborhood teams, and as last resort lawsuit (claim for cessation, damages, or tolerance obligation). The court tests for reasonableness and proportionality. We advise on your legal position, negotiate with neighbors, and litigate if necessary, but always encourage amicable solutions first.

Possibly, depending on liability. In traffic accidents, objective liability for motor vehicles often applies (art. 185 WVW) where the motorist is almost always (partially) liable. In other accidents you must prove the opposing party acted unlawfully or was negligent. Compensable damages: medical costs, loss of earning capacity, household help, pain and suffering, and travel costs. We claim from the liable party or insurer and litigate if refused. Note limitation periods (usually 5 years).

You pay not only your own legal costs but also part of the opposing party's costs (cost order). This concerns fixed legal costs according to liquidation tariff (often 30-50% of actual costs) plus court fees and any expert costs. For manifestly unreasonable litigation, the court can impose full cost order. Therefore, good assessment of chances of success beforehand is crucial. We advise honestly about risks and alternatives such as settlement.

Yes, for attributable breach you can terminate the contract after notice of default and claim damages. Note: minor breaches often don't justify termination. The court assesses whether the breach justifies termination. Upon termination, performances must be undone. Alternative is to enforce performance through court or penalty payment. We assess whether your situation justifies termination and guide the legal process.

Absolutely. We believe in pragmatic solutions. Mediation is often faster and cheaper than litigation and preserves relationships. We guide you during mediation, negotiate on your behalf, and legally review settlement proposals. In complex cases we combine negotiation with legal pressure (announcement of procedure, preliminary attachment). Our goal is always the best outcome for you, whether through settlement or procedure.

Consumers have strong protection: conformity requirement (product must match description/expectation), warranty claims, cooling-off period for online purchases (14 days), right to repair or replacement, and ultimately price reduction or termination. Limitation period is 2 years after discovery of defect. If seller refuses you can go to Disputes Committee (binding advice, accessible) or court. We advise on your rights and litigate against reluctant businesses.

Standard limitation period is 5 years from the day you could have known about damage and liable person. Exceptions: tort with bodily injury 20 years, rental claims 5 years, employment claims 5 years, and some contractual claims 20 years. After expiry you cannot successfully litigate. Interruption of limitation occurs through summons, written demand, or written acknowledgment by debtor. We advise timely on limitation risks.

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