Legal Glossary

A framework agreement is a contract in which the parties establish the general terms and conditions applicable to future specific agreements or assignments.

Rang van een vordering

Rank of a Claim

The position of a claim in the ranking of creditors.

Rangorde

Ranking

The order in which creditors are satisfied in execution or bankruptcy.

Rangregeling

Ranking Procedure

Judicial procedure to establish the ranking of creditors.

Ratificatie

Ratification

Formal approval of an international treaty by a state.

Ratio decidendi

The reason for the decision

The ratio decidendi is the central legal principle or rule of law on which a judicial decision actually rests and which may constitute binding precedent.

Ratio legis

The reason of the law

The ratio legis is the underlying reason or purpose that the legislator had in mind when enacting a statutory provision.

Re-integratieplicht

Reintegration Obligation

The obligation of employer and employee to work toward return after illness.

Reanimatie

Resuscitation

Medical action to restore heartbeat and breathing, legally relevant for advance directives.

Rebus sic stantibus

As long as the circumstances remain unchanged

Rebus sic stantibus is a legal principle permitting the modification or termination of contracts in the event of unforeseen and fundamental changes in circumstances.

Recht aan order

Right to order

A claim embodied in an order instrument and transferable by endorsement.

Recht van overpad

Right of way

The right of way is an easement that entitles the owner of a plot of land to pass over the plot of another in order to reach or leave his own plot.

Rechtbank

District Court

The judicial body that rules in first instance on civil, criminal, and administrative cases.

Rechtbank (insolventie)

Insolvency Court

The court competent to declare bankruptcies and debt restructurings.

Rechter-commissaris (faillissement)

Supervisory Judge (Bankruptcy)

Judge who supervises the administration and liquidation of a bankruptcy.

Rechtmatige daad

Lawful Act

An act that is in accordance with the law and does not have an unlawful character.

Rechtmatigheid

Lawfulness

The quality of an act or decision being in accordance with the law.

Rechtsbijstand

Legal Aid

Professional legal assistance in the handling of legal interests.

Rechtsbijstand in strafzaken

Legal Aid in Criminal Cases

The right to legal assistance by a lawyer in criminal cases.

Rechtsbijstandverzekering

Legal Expenses Insurance

Insurance that covers the costs of legal assistance.

Rechtsbronnen

Sources of Law

The sources from which law originates, such as legislation, treaties, and case law.

Rechtsgebied

Legal Domain

A defined area of law, such as private law or criminal law.

Rechtsgevolg

Legal consequence

The legal consequence is the consequence that arises under the law from a legal act or a legally relevant fact.

Rechtsgrond

Legal basis

The legal basis is the statutory or legal foundation on which a claim, decision or juristic act rests.

Rechtshulp

Mutual Legal Assistance

Mutual legal assistance between states in criminal proceedings.

Rechtshulpverdrag

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty

Treaty between states on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Rechtsmacht

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the authority of a judicial body to hear a dispute and render a binding decision thereon. It determines whether a Dutch court has jurisdiction in a specific case.

Rechtsmiddel

Legal Remedy

Means by which a party can challenge a judicial decision.

Rechtsmiddelen curator

Trustee's Legal Remedies

The trustee's powers to file legal remedies on behalf of the estate.

Rechtspersoon

legal person

A legal person is an entity recognised by law that may independently exercise rights and obligations, separate from the natural persons who constitute it.

Rechtspersoonlijkheid

Legal Personality

The quality enabling an entity to be a bearer of rights and obligations.

Rechtspleging

Administration of Justice

The manner in which law is applied and enforced by judicial authorities.

Rechtspraak

Judiciary

The totality of judicial institutions and their rulings.

Rechtstreekse werking

Direct Effect

The principle that provisions of treaties or EU law directly confer rights on individuals.

Rechtsverhouding

Legal Relationship

A relationship between two or more persons governed by law.

Rechtsverkrachting

Rape of the law

Rechtsverkrachting is a non-statutory term referring to the abuse of legal authority or position to compel a sexual act.

Rechtsvermoeden van arbeidsovereenkomst

Legal presumption of an employment contract

Legal presumption that a working relationship is an employment contract when work is performed weekly, or on average monthly, for a certain payment, unless proven otherwise.

Rechtsverwerking is the loss of a right arising where the holder, by their own conduct or omission, has created a legitimate expectation on the part of the other party that the right will not (or will no longer) be exercised.

Rechtszekerheid

Legal Certainty

The principle that the law must be predictable, accessible, and stable.

Recidive

Recidivism

The commission of a criminal offense after a prior conviction.

Reclameren

To complain

Making a complaint means giving timely and clear notice to the other party of a defect in a product or service.

Reconventie

Counterclaim

A counterclaim filed by the defendant against the plaintiff in the same proceedings.

Recreatiewoning

Holiday Home

A dwelling intended for recreational stay and not for permanent habitation.

Rectificatie

Rectification

Rectification is the correction of a manifest error in a judicial decision or other official document without altering its substantive purport.

Reddingspoging

Rescue Attempt

An attempt to mitigate damage or come to the aid of a person in distress.

Redelijk vermoeden

Reasonable Suspicion

Suspicion based on facts and circumstances that a criminal offense has been committed.

Redelijke kosten

Reasonable Costs

Costs that are proportionate to the purpose for which they are incurred.

Redelijkheid en billijkheid

reasonableness and fairness

Reasonableness and fairness is a general principle of law that obliges parties in a legal relationship to conduct themselves towards each other in accordance with the requirements of reasonableness and fairness.

Referte

Reference

Reference to a position or decision without expressing agreement or disagreement.

Reflexwerking

Reflex effect

The reflex effect is the indirect influence of European provisions lacking direct effect on the interpretation of national law. National courts interpret national law in conformity with the objectives of EU directives.

Reformatio in peius

Reformatio in Peius

The prohibition of receiving a worse outcome on appeal than at first instance.

Regiebasis

cost-plus basis

Cost-plus basis is a contractual arrangement under which the contractor performs the work under the direction of the principal and is remunerated on the basis of the actual costs incurred plus a fee.

Regieovereenkomst

Cost-Plus Agreement

A cost-plus contract is an agreement under which the contractor executes the works against reimbursement of the actual costs incurred for labour and materials, plus a management fee.

Register

A public or official record in which certain legal facts are recorded.

Registerplicht

Registration Obligation

Legal obligation to register certain data in a register.

Registratiesysteem

Registration System

An organized system for recording and storing data.

Regres

Recourse

The right to recover paid damages or costs from a third party.

Regresmogelijkheid

Possibility of Recourse

The possibility of recovering paid amounts from a co-debtor.

Regresrecht

Right of Recourse

The statutory right to recover paid damages from the liable party.

Regresvordering

Recourse claim

A recourse claim is the claim that a party has against another to recover an amount paid by it on behalf of or for that other party.

Rehabilitatie

Rehabilitation

Restoration of rights and reputation after a criminal conviction.

Reisovereenkomst

Travel Agreement

Agreement whereby a travel organizer undertakes to provide a journey.

Rekening en verantwoording

Account and Justification

The obligation to render account for management conducted.

Rekening-courant

Current Account

Bank account for daily payment transactions.

Rekening-courant in faillissement

Current Account in Bankruptcy

The treatment of current account relationships in bankruptcy.

Rekest

Petition

A petition addressed to a judicial authority.

Relatiebeding

Non-Solicitation Clause

A non-solicitation clause is a contractual provision in an employment contract that prohibits the employee from establishing business contacts with the employer’s relations after termination of the employment relationship.

Relatieve bevoegdheid

Relative Jurisdiction

Determines which court within a certain legal domain has jurisdiction.

Relatieve competentie

Relative Competence

The jurisdiction of a particular court based on geographical criteria.

Relativiteitsbeginsel

Principle of Relativity

The relativity principle entails that a breached legal norm only affords protection against damage or interests that the norm specifically seeks to protect.

Relativiteitsvereiste

Relativity Requirement

Requirement that the violated norm serves to protect the injured party.

Renovatie

Renovation

Major improvement or renewal of a building or dwelling.

Rente

Interest

Compensation for the use of money over a certain period.

Rentegratie

Reintegration

The process of an employee returning to the work process after illness or disability.

Renvooiprocedure

Renvoi procedure

The renvoi procedure is the mechanism in private international law whereby a court applies the choice-of-law rules of a foreign legal system, which may result in a reference back to Dutch law.

Reorganisatie

Reorganization

Fundamental change in the structure or organization of an enterprise.

Reorganisatie in faillissement

Reorganization in Bankruptcy

Restructuring of an enterprise within the framework of bankruptcy proceedings.

Reorganisatiewaarde

reorganisation value

The reorganization value is the estimated proceeds of an enterprise upon continuation in restructuring, as opposed to the lower liquidation value upon a sale of assets.

Repertorium

Repertory

Repliek

The plaintiff's written response to the statement of defense.

Reproductie

Reproduction

The multiplication of a work within the framework of copyright law.

Reproductierecht

Right of Reproduction

The exclusive right of the creator to reproduce their work.

Reprorecht

Reprographic Rights

Reprographic rights entitle authors and publishers to remuneration for the reproduction of their works by means of photocopies or digital processes.

Reputatieschade

Reputational damage

Reputational damage is the impairment of the good name or image of a natural person or legal entity through unlawful statements or acts by another. This may give rise to both non-pecuniary and pecuniary damage.

Requisitoir

Closing Speech by Prosecution

The closing argument of the public prosecutor in a criminal case.

Res

Res is a Latin term that in law means “thing” or “property” and refers to objects that may be the subject of legal rights.

Res iudicata

Res judicata

Res iudicata, or the authority of res judicata, means that a final judicial decision is binding and that the same case between the same parties may not be submitted again.

Res nullius

A thing belonging to no one.

Res nullius is a Latin term referring to a thing that belongs to no one and is therefore available for appropriation.

Reservefonds

Reserve Fund

Fund maintained for future expenses or unforeseen costs.

Reservering

Reservation

Setting aside funds or resources for a specific purpose.

Restitutie

Restitution

Return of a previously paid amount or delivered performance.

Restitutierisico

Restitution risk

The restitution risk is the risk that a party may be required to return a payment or performance received if the legal basis therefor subsequently lapses or is annulled.

Resultaatsverplichting

Obligation of Result

Obligation whereby the debtor must achieve a specific result.

Retentie

Retention

The right to retain another's property until a claim is satisfied.

Retentierecht

Right of retention

The right of retention is the right of a creditor to retain possession of a thing belonging to the debtor until the creditor’s claim has been satisfied.

Retentierecht in faillissement

Right of Retention in Bankruptcy

The operation of the right of retention upon the debtor's bankruptcy.

Retrocessie

Retrocession

Retrocession is the further reinsurance by a reinsurer of a risk previously accepted by it, placed with a third reinsurer. This distributes the risk along the chain of insurance.

Revalidatie

Rehabilitation

Medical treatment aimed at restoring physical or mental functions.

Richtlijn

Directive

EU legal act that obliges member states to achieve a certain result.

Rijden onder invloed

Driving Under the Influence

Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Rijksoverheid

Central Government

The central government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Risicoaansprakelijkheid

Strict Liability

Liability that exists regardless of fault or culpability.

Risicoaansprakelijkheid

Strict liability

Strict liability is a form of liability under which the party causing damage is held liable without the need to prove fault or negligence.

Risicoaanvaarding

Assumption of Risk

Consciously accepting a risk, which may limit liability.

Risicoanalyse

Risk Analysis

Systematic assessment of risks and their potential consequences.

Risicodekking

Risk Coverage

The extent to which insurance provides protection against certain risks.

Risicopremie

Risk Premium

The part of the insurance premium that compensates for risk coverage.

Risicoregeling

Risk Regulation

A risk arrangement is an arrangement under which an employer elects to bear the financial risk of continued wage payment in the event of sickness or incapacity for work itself, rather than remitting premiums to the UWV.

Roekeloosheid

Recklessness

Consciously irresponsible conduct with serious risk of damage.

Roerende zaak

Movable thing

A movable thing is a thing that can be relocated without damage to itself or to the land. This is in contrast to immovable things such as land and buildings.