Last updated on 27 October 2026

A criminal record (strafblad) is the common name for the data about your criminal cases in the Dutch judicial records (justitiële documentatie). These records are governed by the Judicial and Criminal Records Act (Wet justitiële en strafvorderlijke gegevens, Wjsg). They include convictions, penal orders and dismissed cases. Justis uses them when you apply for a certificate of good conduct.

Table of contents

Legal basis

The Minister of Justice and Security processes judicial data for the proper administration of criminal justice (article 2 Wjsg). In practice, the agency Justis does this. The records cover more than convictions. A decision not to prosecute, such as a dismissal (sepot), is also recorded.

How long data stays on record depends on the offence. For a serious offence (misdrijf) with a maximum penalty below six years, the usual period is twenty years. For six years or more, it is thirty years (article 4(1) Wjsg). If you are later convicted of another serious offence, the period often starts again (article 4(2) Wjsg).

For minor offences (overtredingen) the periods are shorter. The data is destroyed after five years, or ten years after a custodial sentence or community service (article 6 Wjsg). Sexual offences have longer periods, up to eighty years (article 4(4) Wjsg).

How it works in practice

A criminal record is not public. An employer cannot request it directly. Instead, the employer asks you for a certificate of good conduct (verklaring omtrent het gedrag, VOG). Justis then assesses whether your judicial data poses a risk for that job (articles 28 and 35 Wjsg).

In that assessment, Justis usually looks back over the last four years. For sexual offences and certain serious offences, it looks back further. You can ask Justis which judicial data is recorded about you (article 18 Wjsg).

Common pitfalls

Many people think a penal order (strafbeschikking) or a dismissal does not create a record. That is wrong. These decisions are also recorded. If you accept a penal order without objecting, the offence is treated as established.

A second misunderstanding is that a record “disappears” after four years. Four years is only the usual look-back period for a certificate of good conduct. The data itself stays on file much longer. It can be taken into account when sentencing in a new case.

Also think about other countries. Some countries ask for an extract of your record for a visa or emigration. An old offence may then become visible. Discuss early in your case which outcome has the fewest consequences.

Our criminal lawyers assist suspects and victims in cases involving criminal records and their consequences.