Legal Glossary

Haags Kinderontvoeringsverdrag

Hague Child Abduction Convention

International convention for the prompt return of abducted children.

Haags Verdrag

Hague Convention

Collective term for multilateral conventions concluded under the Hague Conference.

Haalschuld

debt payable on demand

A debt to be collected is an obligation under which the creditor must retrieve the performance from the debtor.

Habeas corpus

You shall have the body.

Habeas corpus is a legal remedy by which a detainee may demand to be brought before a court in order to have the lawfulness of his detention reviewed.

Halsmisdrijf

Capital Crime

Historical term for a crime punishable by death.

Handboek

Handbook

Scholarly reference work systematically covering a legal field.

Handelingsonbekwaam

Legally incapacitated

Legal incapacity means that a person is unable to independently perform valid legal acts.

Handelingsonbevoegd

Lacking capacity to perform legal acts

Incapacity to act means that a person may not independently perform legal acts, for example due to minority or curatorship.

Handelsbeleid EU

EU Trade Policy

Common policy of the European Union regarding international trade.

Handelscontract

Commercial Contract

Agreement between enterprises concerning trade or business transactions.

Handelsmerkrecht

Trademark Law

Legal field governing the protection of trademarks as distinctive signs.

Handelsnaam

Trade name

A trade name is the name under which an enterprise conducts its activities and presents itself to the public.

Handelsnaamrecht

Trade Name Law

Trade name rights entitle an entrepreneur to use a trade name and to protect it against confusing or misleading use by third parties.

Handelsnaamwet

Trade Name Act

Act governing the use of trade names by enterprises.

Handelsovereenkomst

Trade Agreement

A commercial contract is a legally binding agreement between parties acting in the course of their profession or business.

Handelsregister

Trade Register

The Trade Register is the official public register in which enterprises and legal entities in the Netherlands are required to be registered with the Chamber of Commerce.

Handhaving

Enforcement

Monitoring and enforcing compliance with laws and regulations.

Hardheidsclausule

Hardship clause

A hardship clause is a contractual provision that entitles the parties to amend or terminate the agreement in the event of unforeseen circumstances rendering performance unreasonably burdensome.

Harmonisatie

Harmonization

Aligning legislation of different legal systems or member states.

Haviltex-criterium

Haviltex criterion

The Haviltex criterion is the standard for the interpretation of contracts, whereby meaning is determined by reference to what the parties could reasonably have expected from each other in light of the circumstances of the case.

Hechtenis

Detention

Custodial sentence for minor offenses.

Heling

Receiving Stolen Goods

Intentionally acquiring or possessing goods derived from crime.

Herbouwwaarde

Rebuild Value

Amount needed to completely rebuild a building after damage.

Herplaatsing

Reassignment

Employment of an employee in another suitable position within the enterprise.

Herroeping

Revocation

Revocation is the withdrawal of a previously issued legal act or decision, thereby terminating its legal effect.

Hersenbeschadiging

Brain Damage

Damage to brain tissue resulting from injury or disease.

Hersenletsel

Brain Injury

Injury to the brain, whether traumatic or non-traumatic.

Herstelactie

Remedial Action

Legal action aimed at restoring a previous situation or undoing damage.

Herstelexploot

Rectification Writ

Writ rectifying or supplementing a previously served writ.

Herstructurering

Restructuring

Fundamental reorganization of the financial or organizational structure of an enterprise.

Herstructureringsdeskundige

Restructuring Expert

A court-appointed independent expert who, in the context of the WHOA, assists the parties in preparing and negotiating a restructuring plan.

Hoge Raad

Supreme Court

Highest court in the Netherlands for civil, criminal, and tax cases.

Hoger beroep

Appeal

An appeal is the legal remedy by which a party may have a judgment of a lower court reviewed and revised by a higher court.

Holding

A holding company is a company that holds shares in other companies in order to exercise control and strategic management over a group.

Homologatie

Homologation

Homologation is the judicial approval of a composition in insolvency proceedings, rendering it binding on all creditors.

Homologatie akkoord

Court-Approved Composition

Judicial approval of a composition between debtor and creditors.

Homologatiezitting

Homologation Hearing

Hearing at which the court decides on the approval of a composition.

Hondenbeet

Dog Bite

Injury caused by a dog bite.

Hoofddekking

Primary Coverage

The primary coverage of an insurance contract.

Hoofdelijke aansprakelijkheid

Joint and several liability

Joint and several liability means that, where there are multiple debtors, each is individually liable to the creditor for the full amount of the debt.

Hoofdelijke verbondenheid

Joint and Several Liability

Situation where multiple debtors can each be held liable for the entire debt.

Hoofdpijn

Headache

Head pain occurring as a complaint in personal injury cases.

Hoor en wederhoor

Right to Be Heard

Fundamental procedural principle giving each party the right to present their case.

Hoorplicht

Hearing Obligation

Obligation of an administrative body to hear the interested party before deciding.

Hoorzitting

Hearing

Meeting where interested parties can orally explain their position.

Houderschap

Holding

Holding is the legal position in which a person exercises control over a thing for another without the intention of holding that thing as its owner.

Huishoudelijke hulp

Domestic Help

Household assistance as a provision under the Social Support Act or personal injury.

Huiszoeking

House Search

Search of a dwelling by law enforcement officers.

Hulpmiddelen

Assistive Devices

Provisions compensating for limitations resulting from injury or disability.

Hulppersoon

Auxiliary person

An auxiliary person is a third party who, acting on the instructions of the obligor, performs (part of) the obligation or assists in its performance. The obligor is liable for the faults of such person as if they were his own.

Hulppersoon aansprakelijkheid

Liability for Auxiliary Persons

Liability for conduct of auxiliary persons engaged in performing an obligation.

Huur

Lease

A lease is a reciprocal contract whereby the lessor undertakes to provide the lessee with the use and enjoyment of a thing in return for payment of rent.

Huurachterstand

Rent Arrears

Overdue rent payments by the tenant.

Huurbeding

Lease Clause

A rental restriction clause is a provision in a mortgage deed by which the mortgagor undertakes not to let the mortgaged immovable property without the prior consent of the mortgagee.

Huurbescherming

Tenant Protection

Statutory protection of the tenant against termination and eviction.

Huurbevriezing

Rent Freeze

Temporary prohibition on increasing the rent.

Huurcommissie

Rent Tribunal

Independent body deciding disputes on rent prices and service charges.

Huurdersorganisatie

Tenants' Organization

Organization representing the interests of tenants.

Huurgenot

Quiet Enjoyment

The undisturbed use of the rented property by the tenant.

Huurharmonisatie

Rent Harmonization

Adjusting the rent to the maximum reasonable level upon a new tenant.

Huurindexatie

Rent Indexation

Annual adjustment of rent based on a price index.

Huurkoop

Hire-purchase

Hire purchase is an agreement whereby movable property is leased with periodic installment payments, ownership transferring only upon full payment of all installments.

Huurkoopovereenkomst

Hire-Purchase Agreement

Agreement where a good is paid in installments and ownership transfers only upon full payment.

Huurkorting

Rent Reduction

Reduction of rent due to defects or special circumstances.

Huurovereenkomst

Lease Agreement

Agreement where the landlord undertakes to provide a thing for use in return for payment.

Huurovereenkomst woonruimte

Residential Lease Agreement

Lease agreement for the use of a dwelling as primary residence.

Huurprijs

Rent Price

The periodic payment the tenant makes to the landlord for use of the rented property.

Huurprijsbeding

Rental price clause

A rent clause is a contractual provision in a lease agreement that fixes the amount of the rent, including any indexation or adjustment mechanisms.

Huurprijsbescherming

Rental price protection

Rent price protection is the statutory scheme that safeguards tenants of residential accommodation against excessive rents and unreasonable rent increases.

Huurprijscheck

Rent Price Check

Assessment whether the rent conforms to the housing valuation system.

Huurprijsindexering

Rent Indexation

Rent indexation is the periodic adjustment of the rent on the basis of a predetermined index, such as the consumer price index or a specific rental index. This mechanism ensures that the rent increases in line with inflation.

Huurprijsverhoging

Rent Increase

Increase of rent by the landlord.

Huurprijsverlaging

Rent Decrease

Reduction of rent at the tenant's request.

Huurrecht

Tenancy Law

Landlord and tenant law is the field of law that governs the rights and obligations between landlords and tenants in the leasing of residential or commercial premises.

Huurschuld

Rent Debt

Outstanding amount of rent.

Huursubsidie

Rent Subsidy

Government subsidy to reduce rental costs for low-income tenants.

Huurtermijn

Rental Period

The period for which a lease agreement has been entered into.

Huurtoeslag

Rent Allowance

Government allowance for tenants with a low income.

Huurverhoging

Rent Increase

Increase of the rent, whether annual or otherwise.

Huurwaarde

Rental Value

The estimated market value of a property expressed as annual rent.

Huurwoning

Rental Dwelling

Dwelling rented out to a tenant.

Huwelijksaangifte

Marriage Declaration

Notification to the civil registrar of the intention to marry.

Huwelijksakte

Marriage Certificate

Civil registry document evidencing the concluded marriage.

Huwelijkse voorwaarden

Prenuptial Agreement

Notarial deed by which spouses deviate from the statutory matrimonial property regime.

Huwelijksgetuige

Marriage Witness

Person present as witness at the marriage ceremony.

Huwelijksgoederen

Matrimonial Property

Assets belonging to spouses' estate falling under the matrimonial property regime.

Huwelijksvoltrekking

Marriage Ceremony

Official ceremony at which the marriage is concluded before the civil registrar.

Hypotheek

Mortgage

Security right on immovable property securing a loan.

Hypotheekrecht

Mortgage Law

A mortgage is a limited proprietary security interest in immovable property which entitles the creditor, upon default, to sell the property by public auction and to recover its claim from the proceeds.

Hypothetische situatie

Hypothetical Situation

Imaginary situation serving as a benchmark for assessing damages.