Frequently asked questions

At D-Legal, you choose personal legal guidance, clear explanations and advance agreements on the work and costs. We consider both your legal position and the approach that suits the interests at stake: discussion, settlement or proceedings.

D-Legal is a legal consultancy, not a firm of advocates. An advocate is not compulsory for many disputes. Where one is required for your proceedings, we cannot provide that representation. The best choice therefore depends on your case and the assistance you need.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF) · Rechtspraak: when is an advocate compulsory?

The Juridisch Loket provides general legal information and, subject to its income and asset limits, personal advice. It can be a useful first point of contact and refer you onwards if necessary.

D-Legal provides paid assistance with specific cases, including reviewing documents, correspondence, negotiations and representation where permitted. No income limit applies to our clients. We agree the work and costs in advance. If you need subsidised legal aid, D-Legal is not the appropriate provider for that service.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: help with a legal problem · D-Legal general terms (PDF)

A legal adviser can advise, draft letters and negotiate. An advocate is not compulsory before the subdistrict court (kantonrechter). This includes tenancy and employment cases and, generally, monetary claims of up to €25,000. An authorised representative can also assist in many administrative proceedings.

An advocate is compulsory in other civil proceedings and many family cases. Appeals may also have different representation rules from first-instance proceedings. Before starting proceedings, check which form of representation is required.

Sources (Dutch): Rechtspraak: when is an advocate compulsory?

Yes, if the proceedings do not require an advocate and we have accepted the case. Examples include proceedings before the subdistrict court and suitable administrative cases. We agree in advance whether drafting court documents, attending the hearing and any subsequent steps are included.

Representation at first instance does not automatically include an appeal or enforcement of the judgment. Proceedings requiring an advocate and cases in which the IND is a party or directly involved are outside our services.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)

You can contact D-Legal even if you are based outside Amsterdam. Much of the consultation and exchange of documents can take place remotely. We offer assistance in Dutch, English and Russian.

The language we use with you does not automatically determine the language of the proceedings. A court or authority may require documents in Dutch or a translation. If your case requires an interpreter, translation or travel, we discuss the options and any costs in advance.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)

You can contact us about matters including tenancy, employment, consumer contracts, BKR registrations, payment disputes and objections to government decisions. We first assess whether your question falls within our services.

We do not handle proceedings requiring an advocate or cases in which the IND is a party or directly involved. We only provide judicial debt recovery for third parties, not out-of-court debt collection services. Listing an area of law therefore does not mean that we accept every case in that area. See Articles 2 and 10 of our general terms and conditions.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)

The hourly rate shown on our pricing page is €121 including VAT. If the work can be sufficiently defined, we can agree a fixed price. You receive a proposal setting out the scope and pricing arrangements in advance.

Court fees, bailiff fees and other external costs are not automatically included. A hearing or additional work is covered only if agreed. We discuss additional work beforehand. Your engagement confirmation and Article 8 of our general terms and conditions determine the arrangements for your case.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal pricing · D-Legal general terms (PDF)

The total consists of legal assistance, any applicable court fee and, for proceedings commenced by summons, bailiff costs. Expert, translation or enforcement costs may also arise. If you lose, you may additionally have to pay a contribution towards the other party’s litigation costs.

2026 example: an individual bringing a €3,000 monetary claim pays a €265 court fee. The statutory basic tariff for serving the summons is €125.57 excluding VAT, or €151.94 including 21% VAT. Together this is €416.94, before legal assistance and any additional costs. This is an illustration, not an all-inclusive quotation; a bailiff may agree a different price with the instructing client.

Sources (Dutch): Rechtspraak: subdistrict court fees 2026 · Statutory bailiff tariffs, Article 2 · KBvG: the tariff system

In ordinary subdistrict proceedings, the claimant or applicant pays the court fee. Merely defending a case before the subdistrict court normally does not incur a court fee. The amounts below apply in 2026; special procedures may differ.

A sole trader counts as a natural person. Separate conditions and evidence requirements apply to the reduced low-income tariff. This is independent of whether D-Legal provides subsidised legal aid. Always check the current Rechtspraak table.

¹ For example a bv, foundation, vof or cv.

Sources (Dutch): Rechtspraak: subdistrict court fees 2026

In 2026, the statutory tariff for serving a summons is €125.57 excluding VAT. Including 21% VAT, this is €151.94. This is the basic tariff under Article 2 of the Dutch decree on tariffs for official bailiff acts (Besluit tarieven ambtshandelingen gerechtsdeurwaarders).

The amount determines the statutory recoverable cost of the official act and is not automatically the total you pay the bailiff. The instructing client and bailiff may agree a price. Additional disbursements, further acts and the applicability of VAT can affect the amount. We therefore request a quotation in advance.

Sources (Dutch): Statutory bailiff tariffs, Article 2 · KBvG: the tariff system

Not automatically in full. The court may order the losing party to pay litigation costs, but the allowance for legal assistance is usually calculated using fixed tariffs. It may be less than your actual costs. The other party must also be able to pay.

At D-Legal, the treatment of that allowance also depends on your pricing agreement. A full fixed fee or hourly arrangement is subject to the offsetting rules in Article 9.5. If only an initial fee has been agreed in advance, the legal assistance allowance may be payable to D-Legal as remuneration for the remaining work under Article 9.2. We record the applicable arrangement beforehand.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)

In principle, you remain responsible for your own costs. The court may also order you to contribute to the other party’s litigation costs, usually calculated using fixed tariffs. If the other party has brought a claim of its own, you may also have to pay any principal, interest and other amounts awarded.

The outcome is not always all-or-nothing: where each party succeeds in part, the court may allocate costs differently. We therefore discuss both the prospects and financial risks in advance. A special pricing arrangement with D-Legal does not automatically remove your exposure to the other party’s costs.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)

D-Legal does not provide subsidised legal aid.

Do you have legal expenses insurance? Depending on your policy and your insurer’s approval, our fees may be reimbursed. Check with your insurer before instructing us and obtain written confirmation of cover and any conditions. D-Legal does not bill the insurer directly. Without confirmed cover, you should not assume that your insurer will reimburse our invoice.

With an enforceable judgment, a bailiff can take further steps. Usually, the judgment is first formally served and payment demanded. If payment is not made, attachment may be possible under the statutory conditions, for example against income or a bank account.

Winning does not guarantee successful recovery. If the other party has no recoverable assets or income, costs may remain with you. We therefore first discuss enforceability, recovery prospects and expected costs. Enforcing a judgment is not automatically included in the earlier litigation engagement.

Sources (Dutch): Ondernemersplein: collection agencies and bailiffs · D-Legal general terms (PDF)

Report the defects in writing, include photographs and request repairs within a reasonable period. Keep your report and the reply. Explain the seriousness of the problem and, where necessary, provide access for inspection and repairs.

If the problem remains unresolved, a rent reduction through the Huurcommissie or proceedings before the subdistrict court may be possible. The appropriate route depends on your agreement and the defect. The Huurcommissie cannot compel repairs; the court can. Immediate danger or serious nuisance may require faster action.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: addressing poor maintenance · Rijksoverheid: Huurcommissie or court?

Do not stop paying without having the situation assessed. You could accumulate rent arrears and risk proceedings to terminate the tenancy and evict you. A defect does not automatically entitle you to deduct an amount of your own choosing.

You may be entitled to a temporary rent reduction. Report the defect promptly and follow the appropriate procedure. Whether withholding payment, offsetting or reduction is permissible requires a separate assessment. For free-sector tenancies, the Huurcommissie has a more limited role in defects cases and court proceedings may be necessary.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: addressing poor maintenance · Huurcommissie: defects in free-sector housing

In principle, the deposit must be returned within 14 days after the tenancy ends. If a permitted deduction applies, for example for proven tenant damage or unpaid amounts, the balance generally must be paid within 30 days, with a written breakdown of costs.

Normal wear and tear is not a reason to retain your deposit. Request repayment in writing and ask for evidence supporting any deductions. Keep the tenancy agreement, proof of payment, inspection reports and photographs from the start and end of the tenancy. These allow us to assess the prospects of a repayment claim.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: return of the deposit

Each year, by 30 June, your landlord must provide an itemised statement for the preceding calendar year. Check which costs were agreed, whether they were actually incurred and whether the allocation method is correct. You can request access to the supporting documents.

Challenge unclear or incorrect items in writing and request explanations and evidence. Then have it assessed whether the Huurcommissie or the court is the appropriate route. This depends partly on the rental sector and your agreement’s start date. Huurcommissie procedures have filing deadlines, so do not wait indefinitely for a reply.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: service charges and annual accounts · Rijksoverheid: Huurcommissie or court?

This depends on your tenancy agreement, its start date, the rental sector and the issue. The Huurcommissie deals with certain disputes about rents, service charges and defects. In the free sector, its powers vary by subject; for defects, for example, advice is available only subject to conditions and is not binding.

Compelling repairs, recovering a deposit or resolving a termination dispute often requires the subdistrict court. First check the appropriate route and deadlines. This avoids spending time on an application to an authority that cannot resolve your issue.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: Huurcommissie or court? · Huurcommissie: defects in free-sector housing

No. A landlord’s request does not by itself mean that you must leave. To terminate a protected tenancy, the landlord must meet statutory requirements. If you do not consent, a court decision is generally required to end the tenancy.

Different rules may apply to temporary agreements and special forms of letting. Do not immediately sign a termination agreement or hand over your keys if you wish to stay. Have your contract, the notice and the proposed departure date assessed.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: objecting to landlord termination

Ask your employer for payment in writing and specify the wages that are outstanding. Keep your employment contract, payslips, bank statements and timesheets. If payment remains outstanding, a wage claim may be necessary; urgent interim proceedings may help where there is urgency.

Statutory interest may be due in addition to the outstanding wages. Where late payment is attributable to the employer, a statutory increase of up to 50% may also be claimed. The court can reduce it; the maximum is not awarded automatically. Signs of insolvency make prompt assessment especially important.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: wages and statutory increase

Have the reason for dismissal, who initiated termination, the end date and notice period, compensation, holiday entitlement, release from duties and any non-compete clauses checked. Final discharge also matters: you may waive further claims. The wording can affect entitlement to Dutch unemployment benefit (WW).

After concluding a termination agreement, a statutory cooling-off period of 14 days generally applies, or 21 days if the required notice of that right is omitted. During illness, the consequences for wages and benefits can be particularly significant. Have the agreement assessed before signing.

Sources (Dutch): UWV: unemployment benefit after dismissal · UWV: dismissal during illness · Rijksoverheid: dismissal rules

This can be agreed. Ask whether your employer will provide a budget for independent legal advice and record the amount, VAT treatment and payment arrangements in writing. Reimbursement is not an automatic entitlement in every situation.

Check whether the budget covers only an initial review or also negotiations and amendments. We agree with you beforehand which work fits within the available budget. An employer’s contribution does not change the fact that the advice must serve your interests.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal pricing

This depends on your contract, collective agreement and actual work pattern. Where fixed hours are agreed, an employer generally cannot simply reduce wages because there is less work. With variable hours, after at least three months there may be a rebuttable presumption that your working hours equal the average over the preceding three months.

On-call workers are also generally entitled after twelve months to an offer of fixed hours based on their average over those twelve months. Collect your contract, schedules and payslips so we can assess which hours and wages you may claim.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: on-call workers’ rights

Contact us as soon as possible. Short statutory cut-off periods apply to dismissal claims. Challenging a dismissal often requires an application within two months after employment ends. An application concerning an unpaid transition payment must generally be filed within three months after the end date.

Other claims, such as compensation for failure to give timely notice of non-renewal, have their own deadlines. Negotiations or an objection letter to your employer usually do not stop these periods. Do not wait for your employer to respond voluntarily; send the relevant letter and end date straight away.

Sources (Dutch): Rechtspraak: dismissal proceedings deadlines

Sometimes. An incorrect registration must be corrected. Even where a registration is technically correct, an individual balancing of interests may justify early removal. Relevant factors include payment history, the cause of the arrears, current financial stability and your specific interest in removal.

Wanting a mortgage is not automatically sufficient. We assess which facts and supporting documents strengthen your request. We cannot guarantee removal: the outcome depends on the circumstances and the assessment by the lender or competent body.

Sources (Dutch): Kifid: negative BKR registrations

Repayment does not immediately erase your credit history. In principle, a terminated credit agreement remains visible for five years after its actual end date. A recovery notification, end date and special code have different meanings, so check your complete record.

If amounts, dates or codes are incorrect, ask the registering lender to correct them. If the registration is correct, a separate request for early removal may sometimes be possible. Repayment helps the assessment but does not itself guarantee removal.

Sources (Dutch): BKR: CKI regulations (PDF) · Kifid: negative BKR registrations

Start with a recent complete BKR record and correspondence from the lender. Where possible, include the credit agreement, warnings, payment arrangements and proof of repayment.

For early removal, documents concerning your current income, fixed expenses and reason for the request may also be relevant. Examples include a specific mortgage rejection or evidence of exceptional circumstances. First send what is relevant; we will identify any additional documents needed. Do not share login details and redact other people’s information if it is unnecessary for the assessment.

Sources (Dutch): BKR: privacy and access

Ask for a reasoned decision and, where needed, follow the internal complaints procedure. A complaint to Kifid may then be possible if the provider is affiliated and your complaint falls within Kifid’s jurisdiction and rules. Court proceedings may sometimes be the appropriate route.

The correct next step also depends on the legal basis of your request. Short deadlines may apply. Forward a rejection immediately for assessment. Sending another letter to the lender does not automatically extend a complaint or court deadline.

Sources (Dutch): Kifid: eligibility for a complaint · Kifid: filing a complaint

As a consumer, you may expect a product to conform to the contract and possess the qualities that can reasonably be expected. The seller is your point of contact. In the Netherlands, statutory consumer protection is not simply always limited to two years.

The seller will often first have to repair or replace the product free of charge, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience. If that does not happen, or a statutory exception applies, a price reduction or termination may be available. A minor defect does not always justify terminating the entire purchase. Report the problem promptly in writing and keep proof of purchase, photographs and correspondence.

Sources (Dutch): ACM ConsuWijzer: guarantee, repairs and refunds · ACM ConsuWijzer: repair within reasonable time

For many contracts entered into online as a consumer, you have a 14-day cooling-off period. For goods, this generally starts after receipt; for services, after concluding the contract. Exceptions include custom-made goods and certain digital content where you have validly agreed to immediate delivery and loss of the withdrawal right.

After the cooling-off period, cancellation depends on the type of subscription and its duration. Following automatic renewal, the notice period is often no more than one month, but exceptions apply. Have the terms and contract dates checked and retain evidence of withdrawal or cancellation.

Sources (Dutch): ACM ConsuWijzer: cooling-off period · ACM ConsuWijzer: cancelling subscriptions

Do not ignore the letter. Check who is demanding payment, which contract the claim is based on and how the principal, interest and costs were calculated. Request missing evidence and explain in writing which amount you dispute and why. Keep a copy and proof of sending.

Disputing an invoice does not automatically invalidate it or stop proceedings. If you receive a summons, respond in time according to its instructions. A collection agency cannot itself seize assets; that requires a bailiff acting on an appropriate legal title.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: collection agencies · Ondernemersplein: collection agencies and bailiffs

For a consumer, a valid free reminder is usually required first. It must allow another 14 days to pay, counted from the day after receipt, and correctly explain the consequences of non-payment. Statutory collection costs can become payable only after that period expires without payment.

The statutory scale below applies to successive portions of the principal, with a minimum of €40 and a maximum of €6,775. Additional rules limit accumulation for recurring small payment arrears. Different arrangements may apply to business debts. Registration rules for collection providers are also relevant; see question 34.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: collection costs · Rijksoverheid: collection agencies

The Dutch Debt Collection Services Quality Act (Wet kwaliteit incassodienstverlening) imposes requirements on providers within its scope. Check the Justis register to see whether the agency is registered and whether its registration is suspended. Bailiffs and advocates are covered by their own professional registers.

Since 1 October 2026, additional consequences apply when an unregistered or suspended provider is used where registration is compulsory. You do not have to pay that provider; collection costs and interest from the written payment demand may also cease to be payable. The underlying debt does not disappear. If in doubt, have the provider, timeline and amounts assessed before drawing conclusions.

Sources (Dutch): Rechtspraak: rules from 1 October 2026 · Justis: collection services register

First check the contract, delivery, due date and any objections raised by the customer. Send a clear payment reminder yourself and, for a consumer, ensure a valid fourteen-day notice if you later wish to claim collection costs. Keep evidence of the instruction, performance and correspondence.

If payment remains outstanding, D-Legal can assess whether court action is appropriate and economically worthwhile. Under our general terms, we only provide judicial debt recovery for third parties; we do not take over an out-of-court collection process. See Article 2.4 and Article 10. Recovery prospects and the risk of counterclaims also matter.

Sources (Dutch): Ondernemersplein: payment terms, collection costs and interest · D-Legal general terms (PDF)

Check the information on legal remedies at the end of the decision. You can often lodge an objection with the deciding authority within six weeks. The period generally starts on the day after notification in the legally prescribed manner. Some decisions have a different deadline or route.

Keep the decision, envelope or digital transmission details and relevant evidence. Explain which decision you challenge, why you disagree and what outcome you seek. D-Legal can assess and assist with suitable objection cases; we do not handle cases in which the IND is a party or directly involved.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: objections to government decisions · D-Legal general terms (PDF)

This is often possible through a pro forma objection. Include at least your name and address, the date, the decision you challenge and your signature. State that the grounds will follow and request time to supplement them. Use a submission method accepted by the authority and retain proof of receipt.

An incomplete objection can still be declared inadmissible if you fail to supplement it in time after being given an opportunity to remedy the omission. Merely calling or informally requesting an explanation is therefore not a safe substitute for lodging a timely objection. Have the deadline checked immediately.

Sources (Dutch): Rijksoverheid: objections to government decisions · Rechtspraak: Articles 6:5 and 6:6 Awb

An objection usually does not suspend a decision. The authority can therefore generally implement it while your objection is being considered. You may ask the authority to postpone implementation temporarily.

Where there is sufficient urgency, you can also ask the administrative court for interim relief, such as temporarily suspending the decision. An objection or appeal must generally also be pending, and a court fee is payable. In an urgent case, send the decision, implementation date and evidence of the threatened consequences immediately.

Sources (Dutch): Rechtspraak: administrative interim relief

An engagement is formed after you accept the proposal and D-Legal expressly accepts the instruction. We record the agreed work, price and any external costs. Where an advance payment is agreed, we generally start after receiving it.

An initial message or sending documents does not mean we have accepted your case or responsibility for a deadline. Explicitly flag urgency and deadlines; responsibility for monitoring a deadline must be accepted in writing. We discuss additional work beforehand. See Articles 4, 6, 7 and 8 of our general terms. Consumers contracting remotely may also have a cooling-off period (Article 5).

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)

You can end the engagement early. The final account depends on the pricing agreement, work already completed and external costs incurred or still necessarily to be incurred. With a fixed price, the full remaining amount is not automatically payable; statutory rules and circumstances matter. Article 13 of our general terms governs this. Separate cancellation arrangements apply there to business clients.

If you are a consumer and contracted remotely, a statutory 14-day cooling-off period may also apply. If you expressly requested an early start, a proportionate payment for work performed may be due on withdrawal. See Article 5.

Sources (Dutch): D-Legal general terms (PDF)