JURISDICTION FILE
The Dutch Kort Geding is one of Europe's fastest court procedures. A summary judgement in under four weeks. Statutory commercial interest runs at 8% above the ECB refinancing rate — every day your debtor stalls, the debt grows. Dutch companies understand this arithmetic. Most settle before you reach the courtroom door.
HOW WE COLLECT HERE
"Op grond van artikel 6:82 BW stellen wij u hierbij in gebreke. U wordt gesommeerd om binnen 14 dagen na dagtekening het openstaande bedrag van EUR ██.███,██ te voldoen, vermeerderd met de wettelijke handelsrente ex artikel 6:119a BW en buitengerechtelijke incassokosten conform het BIK."
The Netherlands ranks among Europe's most trade-dependent economies — and one of its most legally transparent. Dutch businesses maintain meticulous accounts, honour contractual obligations seriously, and respond quickly to formal collection instruments.
Dutch debt collection law operates under the Burgerlijk Wetboek (BW) and the Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering (Rv). Statutory commercial interest under Article 6:119a BW currently sits at 8 percentage points above the ECB refinancing rate — one of the highest statutory rates in the EU. This accrues automatically from the day payment is due.
Art. 6:119a BW · Art. 6:82 BW · BIK
Statutory commercial interest at ECB + 8% — one of the highest in the EU. BIK regulation: debtor pays standardised collection costs. Your recovery is effectively free.
Before any court proceeding, a formal Ingebrekestelling (notice of default) under Article 6:82 BW is required. The Ingebrekestelling must be in Dutch, must set a reasonable deadline (typically 14 days), and must reference the specific obligations. A demand letter in English carries no legal weight under Dutch procedure.
This is where most foreign creditors fail. They send English-language demands from their home office, wait months, and discover they have not even started the legal clock. Our Netherlands desk issues the Ingebrekestelling on day one, in Dutch.
INGEBREKESTELLING
Notice of default
Art. 6:82 BW. In Dutch. 14-day deadline. Triggers interest + BIK costs.
KORT GEDING
Summary proceedings
Voorzieningenrechter. Judgement in 14 days. Immediately enforceable.
DAGVAARDINGSPROCEDURE
Full summons procedure
Served by Gerechtsdeurwaarder. Kantonrechter (under EUR 25K) or Rechtbank.
DERDENBESLAG
Third-party seizure
Bank accounts seized. Receivables redirected to creditor.
The Kort Geding at the Voorzieningenrechter delivers provisional judgements in as few as 14 days. For clear-cut commercial debts, the debtor is forced to appear, argue in a single session, and face an immediate ruling. Most Dutch debtors, confronted with a Kort Geding summons, settle before the hearing date.
JURISDICTION BRIEFING
How InterStation collects in the Netherlands — a 90-second briefing
Once you hold a Vonnis or Kort Geding ruling, enforcement runs through the Gerechtsdeurwaarder. Bank account attachment (Derdenbeslag), seizure of receivables, and asset execution are standard tools. Dutch enforcement is efficient because it is centralised under national regulation.
The Incassokosten regulation (BIK) allows recovery of standardised collection costs from the debtor — 15% on the first EUR 2,500, scaling to 1% above EUR 200,000. Your debtor pays for the cost of chasing them.
For EU creditors, the EEO and EOP procedures allow enforcement of uncontested claims without exequatur. The Netherlands implements these regulations fully.
Derdenbeslag
Third-party seizure. Bank accounts frozen, receivables redirected.
Real property levy
Requires court authorisation via Gerechtsdeurwaarder.
BIK cost recovery
Collection costs charged to debtor. Sliding scale 15% → 1%.
EEO / EOP
EU enforcement without exequatur for uncontested claims.
ENFORCEMENT PROTOCOL
Formal notice under Art. 6:82 BW. In Dutch. From a Dutch address. The statutory interest clock and BIK collection costs start immediately.
DAY 0: Ingebrekestelling. Formal notice under Art. 6:82 BW. In Dutch. From a Dutch address. The statutory interest clock and BIK collection costs start immediately.For urgent claims: the Voorzieningenrechter hears the case within 14 days. For standard: a Dagvaarding served by Gerechtsdeurwaarder.
DAY 21: Kort Geding / Dagvaarding. For urgent claims: the Voorzieningenrechter hears the case within 14 days. For standard: a Dagvaarding served by Gerechtsdeurwaarder.A provisional judgement in the creditor's favour. Immediately enforceable. The debtor's bank gets a call from the Gerechtsdeurwaarder.
DAY 35: Kort Geding Vonnis. A provisional judgement in the creditor's favour. Immediately enforceable. The debtor's bank gets a call from the Gerechtsdeurwaarder.Bank accounts seized. Receivables from the debtor's own customers redirected to the creditor. Plus 8%+ interest and all BIK costs.
DAY 42+: Derdenbeslag (Third-Party Seizure). Bank accounts seized. Receivables from the debtor's own customers redirected to the creditor. Plus 8%+ interest and all BIK costs.Formal notice under Art. 6:82 BW. In Dutch. From a Dutch address. The statutory interest clock and BIK collection costs start immediately.
DAY 0: Ingebrekestelling. Formal notice under Art. 6:82 BW. In Dutch. From a Dutch address. The statutory interest clock and BIK collection costs start immediately.For urgent claims: the Voorzieningenrechter hears the case within 14 days. For standard: a Dagvaarding served by Gerechtsdeurwaarder.
DAY 21: Kort Geding / Dagvaarding. For urgent claims: the Voorzieningenrechter hears the case within 14 days. For standard: a Dagvaarding served by Gerechtsdeurwaarder.A provisional judgement in the creditor's favour. Immediately enforceable. The debtor's bank gets a call from the Gerechtsdeurwaarder.
DAY 35: Kort Geding Vonnis. A provisional judgement in the creditor's favour. Immediately enforceable. The debtor's bank gets a call from the Gerechtsdeurwaarder.Bank accounts seized. Receivables from the debtor's own customers redirected to the creditor. Plus 8%+ interest and all BIK costs.
DAY 42+: Derdenbeslag (Third-Party Seizure). Bank accounts seized. Receivables from the debtor's own customers redirected to the creditor. Plus 8%+ interest and all BIK costs.FREQUENTLY ASKED
Need to collect a debt in the Netherlands? Contact us with your case details and we will confirm our approach within 24 hours.
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