Netherlands: Contracts and Commercial Law

Nederlandse en Amerikaanse M&A-praktijken verschillen fundamenteel op het gebied van juridische structuur, koopprijsmechanismen en aansprakelijkheid.

The Netherlands and the United States have maintained an active M&A relationship for decades, with Dutch and American parties regularly meeting across the negotiating table.

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets has intervened in ANWB Energie's billing crisis, requiring the energy supplier to compensate approximately 700 customers who have experienced prolonged delays exceeding six weeks. The regulatory action addresses systemic issues stemming from incompatible metering hardware and mandates direct customer contact, automatic compensation payments, and potential contract modifications for affected households.

The Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive introduces a new EU‑wide framework to combat greenwashing and social washing across all consumer markets.

On 01 July 2025, the Abolition of Pledge Prohibitions Act (the Act; “Wet opheffing verpandingsverboden” in Dutch) entered into force. This legislative change has significant implications for business financing, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

A Dutch court examines whether company directors can be held personally liable under the Beklamel doctrine when their company failed to deliver functioning scrubber systems and subsequently went bankrupt. The case explores the high threshold required to pierce the corporate veil and hold directors accountable for corporate obligations.

Een bedrijf kopen uit een faillissement (doorstart) kan een interessante en lucratieve manier van bedrijfsovername zijn. Maar het is wel een heel ander proces dan een reguliere overname.

Op 4 maart 2025 is het Wetsvoorstel opheffing verpandingsverboden aangenomen door de Eerste Kamer. Deze wet maakt een einde aan bedingen in het handelsverkeer die ertoe strekken...

What does the future of retail look like? In a world where physical and online shopping are increasingly merging, a strong omnichannel strategy is essential for retailers.