What Is the Dutch Civil Code?
The Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek, abbreviated BW) contains the core of Dutch private law: persons and family, companies, property, succession, contracts and tort. It is divided into books, and an article is cited by book and number: 6:98 BW is article 98 of Book 6. The Code is published officially in Dutch only. This library gives an unofficial English translation of the articles people search for most, next to the current Dutch text, with an explanation of how each is applied.
Which Articles Are Translated and Explained?
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| Article 6:74 | Liability for non-performance |
| Article 6:75 | Force majeure (non-attributable failure) |
| Article 6:82 | Notice of default |
| Article 6:96 | Pecuniary loss and recoverable costs |
| Article 6:97 | Assessment and estimation of damages |
| Article 6:98 | Causation and the scope of liability |
| Article 6:99 | Alternative causation |
| Article 6:100 | Offsetting benefits against damage |
| Article 6:101 | Contributory fault and apportionment |
| Article 6:106 | Non-pecuniary damage |
| Article 6:109 | Judicial reduction of damages |
| Article 6:119 | Statutory interest on late payment |
| Article 6:162 | Tort (unlawful act) |
| Article 6:163 | Relativity requirement |
| Article 6:177 | Liability for mining installations |
| Article 6:248 | Reasonableness and fairness in contracts |
| Article 6:262 | Suspension of performance |
| Article 6:265 | Rescission for non-performance |
| Article 7:640a | Expiry of statutory holiday entitlement |
| Article 7:672 | Notice periods for termination |
| Article 7:758 | Acceptance and delivery of works |
| Article 7:764 | Principal's right to terminate a works contract |
How Is the Dutch Civil Code Organised?
The Code is organised in books. Each book is published separately on wetten.overheid.nl, the official source of Dutch legislation; the links below go to the current Dutch text.
| Book | Subject |
|---|---|
| Book 1 | Persons and family law |
| Book 2 | Legal persons (companies, associations, foundations) |
| Book 3 | Property law in general, including juridical acts and limitation periods |
| Book 4 | Law of succession |
| Book 5 | Real rights, including ownership |
| Book 6 | General part of the law of obligations: contracts, non-performance, damages and tort |
| Book 7 | Specific contracts, such as sale, employment, lease and construction |
| Book 7A | Specific contracts not yet moved to Book 7 |
| Book 8 | Transport law |
| Book 10 | Private international law |
There is no Book 9. For contracts, Book 6 contains the general rules that apply to every contract, and Book 7 adds rules for particular types of contract. Book 3 contains rules that apply across private law, such as those on juridical acts and on limitation periods.
How Should You Read These Translations?
Every translation in this library is unofficial. It is shown next to the Dutch text as it is currently in force, and where the two differ, the Dutch text prevails. Dutch legal terms do not always have an exact English equivalent: redelijkheid en billijkheid is translated as reasonableness and fairness, toerekening as attribution, and verzuim as default, and each page explains the term where it matters.
For the broader subjects, see the guides on Dutch contract law, Dutch employment law and litigation in the Netherlands.