Forum

In Dutch law, the term "forum" refers to the court or tribunal competent to adjudicate a dispute. Jurisdiction is determined by statutory connecting factors, such as the defendant's domicile, the place of performance of the obligation, or the location where a tort was committed.

The choice of forum is significant, as it affects the applicable procedural rules, the duration of the proceedings and, in some cases, the substantive law to be applied. In international matters, a forum selection clause may afford parties strategic advantages or, conversely, give rise to disputes concerning forum non conveniens.

In practice, counsel must carefully identify the appropriate forum to avoid a case being dismissed as inadmissible or unnecessarily delayed by jurisdictional challenges.