Media Lawyer

As media lawyer in the Netherlands, we assist businesses, professionals and private individuals when a publication harms their reputation, and publishers and companies who want to publish without legal risk. Think of defamatory articles, social media posts, unauthorised photos and requests to remove content. We work in English and Dutch; the first step is a free introductory meeting in which we assess the publication and the fastest route.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

• a newspaper, website or blog publishes false or one-sided accusations about you or your company;
• someone spreads damaging posts or reviews about you on social media;
• your photo or video is published without your consent;
• you want a publication removed, corrected or rectified;
• a journalist asks for your response before publication and you want to react carefully;
• you want to publish critical content and check the risks beforehand;
• you have received a demand to remove content and want to know whether you must comply.

When is a publication unlawful under Dutch law?

A publication is unlawful when the reputation and privacy of the person discussed outweigh the publisher's freedom of expression. Dutch courts weigh all circumstances of the case; there is no fixed checklist.

Both rights are protected. Freedom of expression follows from Article 7 of the Dutch Constitution and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Respect for private life follows from Article 8 of that Convention. A civil claim is based on tort under Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code.

Courts look at factors such as these:

• whether the publication contributes to a public debate;
• whether the accusations have sufficient support in the facts available at the time;
• the tone and wording, including suggestive headlines;
• whether the person was given the chance to respond before publication;
• the role of the person: a politician or company director must accept more criticism than a private individual.

Facts can be proven true or false. Opinions and value judgements receive more protection, but they still need some basis in fact. Our article on defamation and libel under Dutch law explains the criminal side, under Articles 261 and 262 of the Dutch Criminal Code.

Which remedies do you have against defamation?

You can demand removal of the publication, rectification, a ban on repetition and compensation. In urgent cases you can ask the court for these measures in summary proceedings (kort geding), which often lead to a decision within weeks.

Removal and ban on repetition

The court can order the publisher to remove the content and not to repeat it, usually with a penalty payment (dwangsom) per breach. An order to remove content in advance of publication is rare, because it restricts freedom of expression heavily.

Rectification

Under Article 6:167 of the Dutch Civil Code, the court can order a rectification of an incorrect or misleading publication. The court decides on the wording, the place and the duration. A rectification is often more effective than compensation, because it repairs the reputation in the same channel.

Compensation

You can claim financial loss, such as lost assignments. Non-material damage can be claimed when your honour or good name was harmed (Article 6:106). Amounts awarded by Dutch courts are usually limited, so compensation is rarely the main goal.

Criminal complaint

Defamation and libel are also criminal offences. You can report them to the police, but prosecution depends on the Public Prosecution Service. A civil procedure gives you more control over speed and outcome.

What are your portrait rights?

Under the Dutch Copyright Act, you can oppose publication of a recognisable image of yourself when you have a reasonable interest in doing so. For portraits made on your commission, publication generally requires your consent.

Portrait rights are set out in Articles 19 to 21 of the Dutch Copyright Act. For non-commissioned portraits, Article 21 applies: publication is not allowed if you have a reasonable interest that opposes it. That interest can be privacy, for example a photo taken in a sensitive situation. It can also be commercial, if you are a well-known person whose image has market value. Recognisability is decisive; it need not be your face. See our article on publication and portrait rights.

How do you get content removed from the internet?

Start with a written request to the author or publisher, then to the platform or host. If that fails, the court can order removal; for search results, you can rely on the right to erasure under the GDPR.

Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms must offer a notice-and-action mechanism for illegal content. They must decide on notices in a timely and careful manner and explain their decision. The Dutch notice-and-takedown code of conduct describes how Dutch intermediaries handle such notices; see our article on that code.

For search results about you, Article 17 GDPR gives you a right to erasure in certain cases, often called the right to be forgotten. The search engine weighs your privacy against the public interest in the information. If it refuses, you can complain to the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) or go to court. Our privacy lawyer page covers the GDPR side.

A complaint about journalistic conduct can also be filed with the Netherlands Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek). Its opinions are not binding and do not lead to removal or compensation.

How does working with Law & More work?

1. Introductory meeting: you show us the publication, and we assess urgency and the evidence.
2. Advice and cost estimate: we weigh your chances, the risk of extra attention and the costs.
3. Approach and negotiation: we send a demand for removal or rectification to the publisher or platform.
4. Proceedings or completion: if the publisher refuses, we start summary proceedings or proceedings on the merits.

What does a media lawyer cost?

Our hourly rate is 250 to 350 euros excluding VAT for a lawyer and 300 to 400 euros excluding VAT for a partner. We discuss the rate and an estimate in advance. The introductory meeting is free of charge. A one-off advice meeting without further assistance costs 300 euros including VAT.

Court fees and bailiff costs are charged separately. Legal aid exists via the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis.

Who handles your case?

Your case is handled by one of our lawyers; in the introductory meeting you will hear who. You can see everyone on our team page.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can a media lawyer get a defamatory article removed?

If the publisher removes it after a demand letter, this can happen within days. If not, a media lawyer can start summary proceedings, which usually lead to a judgment within a few weeks. Speed matters: if you wait months, the court may doubt the urgency. Secure screenshots with dates and URLs straight away.

Can I force a newspaper to publish a rectification?

Yes, if the court finds the publication incorrect or misleading and therefore unlawful. Under Article 6:167 of the Dutch Civil Code, the court can order a rectification and decides on its wording and placement. Courts are cautious, because a rectification touches on press freedom. A voluntary correction is sometimes faster.

Is a negative online review defamation?

Not necessarily. A customer may share an honest negative experience and a critical opinion. A review becomes unlawful when it contains untrue factual claims, is unnecessarily insulting or is fake. Platforms can be asked to remove unlawful reviews; the author can be held liable.

Can someone post a photo of me without permission?

That depends on the situation. For a portrait made on your commission, consent is generally required. For other photos, you can object if you have a reasonable interest, such as privacy or the commercial value of your image. The court weighs that interest against the freedom of the person who published it.

Can I sue someone who defames me anonymously online?

Often, yes, but first you need to know who it is. A platform can be asked to provide identifying data. If it refuses, the court can order disclosure. The publication must then be likely unlawful, with no less drastic way to identify the author. Platforms can also be ordered to remove the content.

Should I respond when a journalist asks for my reaction?

Usually, yes, but with care. A short, factual response limits the risk of a one-sided story and supports a later claim if the article is still unlawful. Never respond in anger. Let a lawyer check your response if the accusations are serious.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know within one working day what your options are. Contact us, call +31 40 369 06 80 or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.