Legal Glossary

Kadaster

Land Registry

The public registration of immovable properties and rights established thereon.

Kaderovereenkomst

Framework agreement

An agreement establishing the general terms for future transactions.

Kamer van koophandel

Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce (KvK) is the official Dutch authority responsible for registering businesses and maintaining the trade register.

Kamerverhuur

Room rental

The rental of a non-self-contained living space within a larger unit.

Kansschade

Loss of chance

Damage consisting of the loss of a chance of a favorable outcome.

Kantonrechter

Subdistrict court judge

The judge competent for certain civil cases and employment and rental cases.

Kantonrechtersformule

Cantonal judge's formula

The subdistrict court judges’ formula is a calculation method used by subdistrict court judges to determine the amount of severance pay in cases of unlawful termination of an employment contract.

Kantonzaak

Subdistrict case

A case handled by the subdistrict court judge.

Kantooruren

Office hours

The regular working hours during which an office or service is available.

Kapitaal

Capital

The assets contributed by shareholders to a company.

Kapitaalbescherming

Capital Protection

Capital protection concerns the statutory rules that protect a company's share capital against unlawful distributions to shareholders or third parties.

Kapitaalvermindering

Capital reduction

A capital reduction is the formal reduction of the issued share capital of a company. This may occur by way of a distribution to shareholders or by offsetting losses.

Kascommissie

Audit Committee

An audit committee is a committee within an association that audits the financial administration and the treasury.

Katvanger

straw man

A straw man is a person who lends his or her identity or name to criminals in order to conceal illegal activities such as money laundering or fraud.

Kelderluik-criteria

Cellar hatch criteria

The criteria for assessing the creation of danger as a tortious act.

Kenmerkend vermogen

Characteristic performance

The performance that gives a contract its characteristic nature for PIL purposes.

Kennelijk onredelijk ontslag

Manifestly unreasonable dismissal

Manifestly unreasonable dismissal is the termination of an employment contract that is clearly unreasonable for the employee, thereby entitling the court to award damages.

Kennisgeving

Notification

A formal communication to a person or institution about a legally relevant fact.

Kennisgeving besluit

Decision notification

The formal announcement of an administrative decision to interested parties.

Kernbeding

Essential clause

A core term is an essential provision in a contract that defines the essence of the performance and the principal obligations of the parties.

Ketenaansprakelijkheid

Chain liability

Chain liability means that the main contractor or client may be held liable for unpaid wages and social security contributions of employees of subcontractors in the chain.

Ketenregeling

Chain provision

The chain rule limits the number of successive fixed-term employment contracts. After three contracts or a total duration of 24 months within a chain, an employment contract for an indefinite period arises.

Kettingbeding

Chain clause

A chain clause is a contractual provision whereby the acquirer of an asset undertakes to impose the same obligations on any subsequent acquirer, thereby ensuring that the condition remains effective.

Kifid

The Financial Services Complaints Institute for disputes between consumers and financial institutions.

Kind erkend

Recognized child

A child whose paternity has been established through recognition.

Kinderalimentatie

Child support

The financial contribution of parents to the costs of care and upbringing of their children.

Kindermishandeling

Child abuse

Any form of physical, psychological, or sexual violence against a minor.

Kinderporno

Child pornography

Images of sexual acts involving a minor.

Kinderrechter

Juvenile court judge

The judge competent for juvenile criminal cases and child protection measures.

Kindsdeel

Child's share

The statutory inheritance share of a child in a parent's estate.

Kinesitherapie

Kinesiotherapy

Treatment of physical complaints through movement therapy.

Klachten

Complaints

Expressions of dissatisfaction with a service, product, or action of an organization.

Klachtplicht

Duty to complain

The duty to complain is the statutory obligation to notify the other party within a reasonable period of any defect or shortcoming in the performance.

Klasse

Class

A class is a group of similar claims or parties that are treated jointly in a legal proceeding.

Klokkenluidersregeling

Whistleblower scheme

A scheme for the protection of persons who report wrongdoing in an organization.

Klusrecht

Right to make improvements

The right of a tenant to make changes to the rented dwelling.

Kneuzingen

Contusions

Superficial tissue damage from blunt force, relevant in personal injury cases.

Knieletsel

Knee injury

Damage to the knee joint as a result of an accident or violence.

Knowhow

Know-how

Non-public technical or business knowledge with commercial value.

Koop op afbetaling

Instalment purchase

An instalment sale is a contract of sale under which the buyer receives the goods immediately but pays the purchase price in instalments, often subject to retention of title.

Koop-/aannemingsovereenkomst

Purchase and Contracting Agreement

A purchase/contracting agreement is a mixed contract that governs both the purchase of immovable property and the contracting of construction works, and is commonly used in new-build projects.

Koopakte

Purchase deed

The written agreement for the purchase of real estate.

Koopcontract

Purchase contract

An agreement whereby the seller delivers an item and the buyer pays the price.

Koopoptie

Option to Purchase

A purchase option is a contractual right that entitles the holder to acquire an asset, typically real property, on predetermined terms within a specified period.

Koopovereenkomst

Purchase Agreement

A contract of sale is a reciprocal agreement whereby the seller undertakes to deliver a thing and the buyer undertakes to pay the purchase price.

Koopsomverzekering

Single premium insurance

An insurance policy purchased with a single lump-sum payment.

Kort geding

Summary proceedings

an urgent procedure before the interim relief judge for situations that cannot wait for a regular lawsuit, in which a provisional decision is made that is immediately enforceable.

Kosten deskundigenonderzoek

Expert examination costs

The costs of an expert engaged by the court or a party.

Kosten rechtens

Costs to follow the event

The claim that the losing party pays the winning party's litigation costs.

Kosten ter vaststelling

Costs of assessment

The reasonable costs incurred to determine the extent of damage.

Kostenvergoeding

Cost reimbursement

The reimbursement of costs incurred by an employer, insurer, or government.

Kostenverhaal

Cost recovery

The recovery of costs incurred from the party that caused them or is responsible.

Kostenveroordeling

Order for costs

A costs order is a judicial decision whereby the losing party to proceedings is ordered to pay the legal costs of the successful party.

Kostwinnerschap

Breadwinner status

The position of the person earning the main income for the family.

Kracht van gewijsde

Force of res judicata

Res judicata is the binding effect that a judicial decision acquires once it has become final and unappealable, thereby binding the parties and rendering the matter definitive.

Kraken

Squatting

Squatting is the occupation and use of a vacant building without the owner's consent, with the intention of residing there.

Kroongetuige

Crown witness

A suspect who testifies against co-suspects in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Kwade trouw

Bad faith

Bad faith is acting with knowledge or with reasonable grounds to know that one is thereby acting in contravention of the rights or interests of another.

Kwalitatief recht

Qualitative right

A qualitative right is a right attached to a particular capacity or quality of the rightholder, such as owner or mortgagee, and which passes with that capacity.

Kwalitatieve aansprakelijkheid

Strict liability

Liability not based on fault but on a specific capacity or quality.

Kwalitatieve meerderheid

Qualified majority

A voting ratio requiring more than a simple majority.

Kwalitatieve verplichting

Qualitative obligation

A qualitative obligation is a burden attached to immovable property that binds not only the current owner but also his successors in title under a special title.

Kwartaalcijfers

Quarterly figures

The financial results of a company for a quarter.

Kwekersrecht

Plant variety rights

The exclusive right to a new plant variety.

Kwijting

Discharge

A release is a declaration whereby a creditor discharges the debtor from his payment obligation.