The court system in the Netherlands: all courts, special chambers, tribunals and dispute bodies

The Dutch judiciary has three levels: 11 district courts (rechtbanken), 4 courts of appeal (gerechtshoven) and the Supreme Court (Hoge Raad). Within each district court, the subdistrict judge (kantonrechter) hears claims up to EUR 25,000 and all employment, rent and consumer cases, and parties may appear there without a lawyer. In administrative law, three specialised highest courts sit alongside the Supreme Court, and special chambers such as the Enterprise Chamber and the Netherlands Commercial Court handle particular disputes. Outside the judiciary, bodies such as the Rent Tribunal, the Dutch Arbitration Institute, Kifid and the disciplinary tribunals decide many disputes. The Netherlands has no jury: every court case is decided by professional judges.

Dutch courts and tribunals at a glance

• 11 district courts hear almost all cases at first instance: civil, criminal, administrative and tax.
• 4 courts of appeal: Amsterdam, Arnhem-Leeuwarden, The Hague and 's-Hertogenbosch.
• The Supreme Court in The Hague decides appeals in cassation on points of law only.
• Highest administrative courts: the Council of State, the Central Appeals Tribunal and the Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal.
• Special chambers: the Enterprise Chamber, the Netherlands Commercial Court and the agricultural lease chambers.
• Outside the courts: rent tribunal, consumer and financial complaints boards, arbitration institutes and disciplinary tribunals.
• No jury: every case is decided by one or more professional judges.

On this page

How Are the Dutch Courts Organised?

The judiciary consists of the district courts, the courts of appeal and the Supreme Court (Article 2 of the Judiciary Organisation Act). The number and names of the courts are laid down in the Wet op de rechterlijke indeling. Court work is divided into three areas of law: civil, criminal and administrative law.

The district courts hear all civil cases at first instance unless the law provides otherwise (Article 42). The courts of appeal hear appeals from the district courts in their area (Article 60), and the Supreme Court hears appeals in cassation against their judgments (Article 78). According to the judiciary's own figures, the Dutch courts gave some 1.5 million decisions in 2025, with 2,715 judges. For the question which country's courts have jurisdiction in an international case, see jurisdiction in international disputes.

Which Court Hears a Civil Case?

The subdistrict judge or the civil section of the district court, depending on the value and the type of case: Article 93 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Rv).

The rule on lawyers is in Article 79 Rv. For employment disputes, see the subdistrict court in employment cases; for the course of a case, see civil procedure in the Netherlands.

Does the Netherlands Have Jury Trials or Jury Duty?

No. The Netherlands has no jury system and no jury duty. Every case, civil or criminal, is decided by professional judges, sitting alone or in a panel of three.

The subdistrict judge always sits alone (Article 47 of the Judiciary Organisation Act); in other cases the court decides whether a single judge or a panel of three hears the case, depending on its complexity. Some chambers include lay experts alongside the judges, such as the Enterprise Chamber and the agricultural lease chambers described below, but these are specialists, not jurors.

Are Dutch Civil Judges Active or Passive?

The judge decides the case on the basis of what the parties have put forward (Article 24 Rv), but supplies the applicable legal grounds on its own motion (Article 25 Rv). Facts stated by one party and not sufficiently disputed by the other must be treated as established (Article 149 Rv).

• The judge decides on everything the parties have claimed (Article 23) and may not refuse to decide (Article 26).
• Within the limits of the dispute, the judge may discuss the basis of the claim or defence with the parties (Article 24(2)).
• Both sides must have the opportunity to comment on each other's positions and documents; the judge does not rely on material a party could not respond to (Article 19).
• The judge guards against unreasonable delay and can take measures of its own motion (Article 20).

In practice the judge plays an active role at the oral hearing, asking questions and exploring a settlement. How evidence works is explained in evidence in Dutch proceedings.

Are Court Hearings in the Netherlands Public?

Yes. Hearings are public on pain of nullity, unless the law provides otherwise (Article 4 of the Judiciary Organisation Act; Article 27 Rv).

The court can order a hearing behind closed doors, in whole or in part, in the interest of public order or morals, state security, the interests of minors or the privacy of the parties, or where publicity would seriously harm the proper administration of justice. Parties may then not disclose what was discussed to third parties (Article 28 Rv).

How Do Appeal and Cassation Work?

A judgment of a district court can be appealed to the court of appeal within three months (Article 339 Rv), unless the claim was not more than EUR 1,750 (Article 332 Rv). The judgment of the court of appeal can be taken to the Supreme Court in cassation, also within three months (Article 402 Rv).

The court of appeal reviews the facts and the law again. The Supreme Court does not: it is bound by the facts as established by the lower court and examines only the grounds of cassation raised (Article 419 Rv). A cassation writ or petition must be signed by a lawyer admitted to practise before the Supreme Court (advocaat bij de Hoge Raad) (Articles 407 and 426a Rv). The Procurator General's office at the Supreme Court gives independent advisory opinions in many cases. More on the procedure: appeal proceedings in the Netherlands.

What Are Summary Proceedings (Kort Geding)?

In urgent cases, the preliminary relief judge (voorzieningenrechter) of the district court can grant an immediate provisional measure (Article 254 Rv). A hearing can be scheduled at short notice, and the deadline for an appeal is four weeks (Article 339(2) Rv).

Summary proceedings are widely used because proceedings on the merits take considerably longer. The decision is provisional: it does not prejudice the case on the merits (Article 257 Rv). See preliminary relief in the Netherlands.

Which Courts Hear Disputes With the Government?

An interested party can appeal against a government decision to the administrative court (Article 8:1 of the General Administrative Law Act, Awb). As a rule, an objection (bezwaar) to the government body must come first, and objections and appeals must be filed within six weeks (Articles 7:1 and 6:7 Awb). The first court is usually the administrative section of the district court (Article 8:6 Awb).

Appeal then lies with one of the highest administrative courts. The Netherlands has four highest courts in administrative matters:

The Supreme Court does not hear appeals in cassation against decisions of the district courts acting as administrative courts (Article 78(2) of the Judiciary Organisation Act).

Which Special Chambers Exist Within the Dutch Courts?

Several chambers have exclusive tasks. The best known is the Enterprise Chamber (Ondernemingskamer) of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, which sits with three judges and two expert lay members (Article 66 of the Judiciary Organisation Act).

• Enterprise Chamber: orders inquiries into the policy and conduct of companies and certain other legal entities, and can take immediate measures (Articles 2:344 and 2:345 of the Dutch Civil Code); decides at first instance on squeeze-out claims by a 95% shareholder (Articles 2:92a and 2:201a); and hears appeals by a works council against an employer's decision taken against its advice, within one month (Article 26 of the Works Councils Act). See shareholder disputes and the works council.
• Netherlands Commercial Court: English-language chambers of the Amsterdam District Court and Court of Appeal for international commercial disputes; see the next section.
• Agricultural lease chambers (pachtkamers): a subdistrict judge with two expert lay members; appeal to the lease chamber of the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal (Articles 48 and 69 of the Judiciary Organisation Act).
• Other specialised areas at the Amsterdam Court of Appeal include notarial and bailiff disciplinary cases, a customs chamber and an economic criminal chamber.

Can Proceedings Be Conducted in English?

Yes, before the Netherlands Commercial Court (NCC) of the Amsterdam District Court and the Netherlands Commercial Court of Appeal, if the dispute is international, the parties have expressly agreed on it in writing, and the Amsterdam court has jurisdiction: Article 32a Rv.

This does not apply to cases within the jurisdiction of the subdistrict judge. A clause in general terms and conditions is sufficient only if the other party expressly accepted that specific clause. Other Dutch courts conduct proceedings in Dutch. For requirements, the NCC model clause and 2026 court fees, see the Netherlands Commercial Court.

Which Bodies Outside the Courts Decide Disputes?

Many disputes never reach a court. Specialised bodies decide them faster and cheaper, with decisions that are often binding unless a party goes to court in time.

On 29 September 2026 the Senate adopted an act reforming the Rent Tribunal (Wet toekomstbestendige huurcommissie); its date of entry into force had not yet been set. For tenancy law, see lease agreements; for mediation, see mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

Which Disciplinary Tribunals Exist in the Netherlands?

Regulated professions have their own disciplinary courts, which judge professional conduct and can impose measures such as a warning, reprimand, fine or suspension. They do not award damages; that remains a matter for the civil courts.

Under the Wet BIG, the disciplinary board can impose a fine of up to EUR 4,500 (Article 48). For complaints about lawyers, see filing a complaint against a lawyer and the Netherlands Bar.

Where Can You Complain About the Government or Discrimination?

• National Ombudsman (Nationale ombudsman): handles complaints about the conduct of government bodies, such as the tax authorities, UWV, the police or a municipality. Some bodies have their own local ombudsman.
• Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (College voor de Rechten van de Mens): on written request, investigates and gives its opinion on whether unequal treatment prohibited by the equal treatment laws has occurred (Articles 3 and 10 of its Act), for example at work or in access to services. It does not rule on disputes between private individuals such as neighbours. See discrimination in employment.
• Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand): the independent body, based in Utrecht, that administers subsidised legal aid (Article 2 of the Legal Aid Act); see legal aid in employment cases.
• Juridisch Loket: gives free first-line legal advice and refers people to a lawyer or other help.

Which Body Decides Which Dispute?

What Do the Dutch Court Terms Mean?

Costs of proceedings are explained in litigation costs in the Netherlands.

Which Sources Govern the Dutch Courts and Tribunals?

• Wet op de rechterlijke organisatie, the Judiciary Organisation Act
• Wet op de rechterlijke indeling, the 11 district courts and 4 courts of appeal
• Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, the Code of Civil Procedure: Articles 19 to 28, 32a, 79, 93, 149, 254, 257, 332, 339, 402, 407, 419 and 426a
• Algemene wet bestuursrecht, the General Administrative Law Act
• Uitvoeringswet huurprijzen woonruimte, the Rent Tribunal
• Advocatenwet, Wet BIG, Wet op het notarisambt and Wet tuchtrechtspraak accountants, the disciplinary tribunals
• rechtspraak.nl, the Dutch judiciary