Legal Glossary

Maatregel

Measure

An obligation or provision imposed by a court or administrative body.

Maatschap

Partnership

A maatschap is a contractual form of cooperation between two or more persons who jointly practise a profession, without legal personality and with personal liability of the partners.

Maatschappelijk kapitaal

Authorized capital

The authorized capital is the maximum amount of shares that a company may issue pursuant to its articles of association.

Maatwerk

Customized provision

An individually tailored provision in the social domain.

Machtiging

Authorization

The authority to perform legal acts on behalf of another.

Machtiging uithuisplaatsing

Authorization for placement out of home

A court authorization to place a minor outside the family.

Machtiging voortzetting

Authorization for continuation

The extension of a court authorization for a measure.

Machtigingsafgifte

Issuance of authorization

The issuance of an authorization by a competent authority.

Magistratuur

Judiciary

The magistracy is the body of judges and public prosecutors that exercises the judicial power.

Makelaardij

Brokerage

Mediation in the purchase, sale, or rental of real estate.

Makelaarskosten

Brokerage costs

The fee a broker receives for their mediation services.

Mala fide

in bad faith

Mala fide means acting in bad faith, whereby a party intentionally acts dishonestly or with malicious intent.

Management

The governance and daily leadership of an organization or company.

Management-BV

Management Private Limited Company

A management BV is a private limited company incorporated by a director or manager to provide management services to an operating company.

Managementcontract

Management contract

An agreement outsourcing management activities to an external party.

Managementovereenkomst

Management agreement

An agreement on the terms under which management services are provided.

Mandaat

Mandate

The authority to take decisions in the name of an administrative body.

Mandaat bestuursrecht

Administrative law mandate

The administrative law concept where an administrative body mandates authority to another.

Mandatum

Mandate

Mandatum is a contract under Roman law whereby the mandatary is instructed to perform a juristic act in the name and for the account of the mandator.

Marktordening

Market regulation

The regulation of markets by the government to ensure fair competition.

Materieel recht

Substantive law

Substantive law encompasses the substantive rules that establish the rights, obligations and legal consequences of the parties. It is distinguished from procedural law, which governs the procedural rules.

Materiële inbreuk

Material breach

A substantial violation of an agreement or right.

Materiële schade

Material damage

Financial damage that can be expressed in money.

Materiële schade

Material damage

Material damage is the actual financial loss suffered by the injured party as a result of a tortious act or breach of contract, such as repair costs or lost income.

Matiging

Mitigation

Mitigation is the power of the court to reduce an agreed contractual penalty if it is unacceptably high by the standards of reasonableness and fairness.

Matiging schadevergoeding

Reduction of damages

The court's power to reduce damages if they would be unreasonable.

Mededelingsplicht

Duty of disclosure

The obligation to disclose relevant information to the other party.

Mededinging

Competition

The rivalry between companies in a market.

Mededingingsrecht EU

EU competition law

The European legal field ensuring fair competition in the internal market.

Medehuurder

Co-tenant

A person who is a tenant of a dwelling together with the main tenant.

Medehuurderschap

Co-tenancy

The legal status of co-tenant of a dwelling.

Medeplegen

Co-perpetration

The joint commission of a criminal offense by two or more persons.

Medepleger

Co-perpetrator

A person who commits a criminal offense together with others.

Medeschuld

Contributory fault

The extent to which the victim contributed to the occurrence of the damage.

Medezeggenschap

Co-determination

Employee participation is the right of employees to influence the policy and decision-making within an enterprise. This right is primarily exercised through a works council.

Mediation

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral mediator assists the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable solution without the intervention of the courts.

Medisch adviseur

Medical advisor

A physician who advises legal parties on medical aspects of a case.

Medisch dossier

Medical file

The entirety of medical data about a patient.

Medische aansprakelijkheid

Medical liability

The liability of healthcare providers for damage resulting from medical treatment.

Medische behandeling

Medical treatment

Actions in the field of medicine to diagnose or treat a condition.

Medische eindtoestand

Medical end state

The situation where a patient's recovery has medically stabilized.

Medische fout

Medical error

An error by a healthcare provider in the diagnosis, treatment, or aftercare of a patient.

Meerderjarigheid

Majority

Reaching the age of eighteen, resulting in full legal capacity.

Meervoudige causaliteit

Multiple causation

The situation where multiple causes contribute to the occurrence of damage.

Meervoudige kamer

Multi-judge chamber

A judicial chamber consisting of three judges.

Meerwerk

Additional work

Additional work refers to activities falling outside the scope of the original agreement and resulting in additional costs for the client.

Meeverzekerde

Co-insured

A person covered under an insurance policy alongside the policyholder.

Meineed

Perjury

Perjury is the intentional making of a false statement under oath in a judicial proceeding.

Melding

Report

A formal notification to a competent authority about a certain fact or event.

Melding schade

Damage report

The formal notification to an insurer or liable party about damage suffered.

Memorie van antwoord

Statement of defense on appeal

The written defense of the respondent in appeal proceedings.

Memorie van grieven

Statement of grievances

The written document in which the appellant formulates objections against the judgment.

Mensenhandel

Human trafficking

The exploitation of persons through coercion, deception, or abuse of a vulnerable position.

Mensenrechtenverdrag

Human rights convention

An international treaty protecting fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.

Mentor

A court-appointed person who represents the interests of someone unable to decide about their own care and treatment.

Merkdepot

Trademark filing

The application for registration of a trademark at the trademark office.

Merkenrecht

Trademark Law

Trademark law is the area of law that governs the protection of trademarks. It grants the trademark proprietor the exclusive right to use the mark and to take action against infringement.

Merkhouder

Trademark holder

The holder of a registered trademark.

Merkinbreuk

Trademark infringement

The unauthorized use of a protected trademark.

Merkrecht

Trademark law

The legal field governing the protection of trademarks.

Merkregistratie

Trademark registration

The registration of a trademark with the competent registry.

Middellijke schade

Indirect damage

Damage that does not flow directly but through an intermediate link from the damaging event.

Middenhuur

Mid-range rental

Rental housing in the segment between social housing and the free market sector.

Middenstandsbedrijfsruimte

retail business premises

Retail business premises constitute a category of leased commercial property that, pursuant to Article 7:290 of the Dutch Civil Code, is used for retail trade, hospitality or craft enterprises and is subject to specific tenancy rules.

Milieurecht EU

EU environmental law

The European legal field governing environmental protection.

Militair strafrecht

Military criminal law

Criminal law specifically applicable to military personnel.

Minderheidsaandeelhouder

minority shareholder

A minority shareholder is a shareholder who holds less than 50% of the shares in a company and therefore does not have decisive influence over its policy.

Minderjarige

Minor

A person who has not yet reached the age of eighteen.

Minderjarigheid

Minority

The legal status of a person under the age of eighteen.

Minderwerk

Less work

Less work is that portion of the agreed works which is not executed under a works contract. This typically results in a reduction of the contract sum.

Minimumkapitaal

Minimum capital

The minimum capital is the minimum share capital prescribed by law that must be paid up upon incorporation of a public limited company (NV).

Minimumloon

Minimum wage

The legally established lowest wage an employer must pay.

Minimumuurloon 2026

Minimum hourly wage 2026

The statutory minimum wage, set per hour rather than per month since 1 January 2024, with a half-yearly indexation continuing in 2026.

Minuut

Minute (notarial)

The original copy of a notarial deed that remains with the notary.

Misbruik

Abuse

The unlawful or excessive use of a right or power.

Misbruik van bevoegdheid

Abuse of Authority

Abuse of authority is the exercise of a statutory power for a purpose other than that for which it was granted.

Misdragingen

Misconduct

Serious misconduct that may lead to disciplinary or employment law measures.

Misdrijf

Felony

A serious criminal offense listed in Book 2 of the Criminal Code.

Misleidende reclame

Misleading advertising

Misleading advertising is advertising that misleads or is likely to mislead the average consumer as to the characteristics, price or terms of a product or service. This is prohibited under the Civil Code.

Mobiliteit

Mobility

The ability and willingness of employees to change position or workplace.

Modelcontract

Model contract

A standard agreement that serves as a template for certain legal transactions.

Modellenrecht

Design Law

Design right is the intellectual property right that protects the outward appearance of a product. It grants the holder the exclusive right to use and exploit the design.

Modelrecht

Design right

The intellectual property right protecting the outward appearance of a product.

Modelreglement

Model Regulations

The model regulations constitute a standard set of rules intended to serve as a template for the articles of association of an owners’ association (VvE) upon the division of a building into apartment rights.

Modus operandi

Modus operandi is the characteristic working method or procedure employed by a perpetrator in the commission of criminal offences.

Moedermaatschappij

Parent company

A company that has control over one or more subsidiary companies.

Moedervennootschap

Parent corporation

A corporation that heads a group of companies.

Mondelinge behandeling

Oral hearing

The hearing at which parties orally explain their positions to the judge.

Mondelinge overeenkomst

Oral agreement

An oral agreement is a contract concluded through the oral mutual assent of the parties, without any written record. In the Netherlands, such an agreement is in principle legally valid, unless the law requires a written form.

Monumentale woning

Listed building

A dwelling designated as a national or municipal monument.

Moord

Murder

The intentional and premeditated killing of another person.

Moratorium

A temporary postponement of the performance of obligations.

Motief

Motive

The reason or driving force behind an action.

Motiveringsplicht

Duty to state reasons

The obligation of an administrative body or court to provide reasons for a decision.

Multilateraal verdrag

Multilateral treaty

A treaty concluded between three or more states or international organizations.

Mutatie

Mutation

A change in a registration or administration.

Mutatis mutandis

with the necessary modifications

Mutatis mutandis is a Latin expression denoting that a legal rule or provision applies to a comparable situation with the necessary modifications.

Muziekrechten

Music rights

The intellectual property rights vesting in musical works.