Legal Glossary

WAO

Disability Insurance Act (WAO)

The WAO (Disability Insurance Act) provided benefits to incapacitated employees. Replaced by the WIA since 2006.

WHK-premie

WHK contribution

An employer contribution financing WGA and Sickness Benefits Act payments, based on company size and claims history.

WHOA

The WHOA is the Act on the Homologation of Out-of-Court Arrangements, which enables companies in financial difficulties to conclude a binding agreement with their creditors outside of bankruptcy proceedings.

WHOA-toestand

WHOA situation

The WHOA situation is the situation in which a company is in financial distress and proposes an out-of-court composition pursuant to the Act on the Homologation of Private Settlements (WHOA).

WOR

Works Councils Act

The WOR is the Works Councils Act, which regulates the establishment, composition and powers of works councils in Dutch undertakings.

WOZ-waarde

WOZ property value

The WOZ value is the property value determined by the municipality, used for tax purposes.

WSNP

Debt restructuring (WSNP)

The WSNP (Natural Persons Debt Restructuring Act) offers individuals with problem debts a chance at a debt-free future through a restructuring plan.

Waarborgfonds

Guarantee fund

The Motor Vehicle Guarantee Fund compensates traffic victims when the perpetrator is uninsured or unknown.

Waarborgsom

Security deposit

A security deposit is a sum of money deposited by a party to a contract as security for the performance of its obligations.

Waarheidsplicht

Duty of truthfulness

The duty of truthfulness is the statutory obligation of the parties in judicial proceedings to provide the court with factually accurate and complete information and not to mislead it.

Waarschuwingsplicht

Duty to Warn

The duty to warn is the obligation to inform others of any potential hazards or risks arising from an act, product or situation.

Wanprestatie

Breach of contract

the failure to perform, the late performance, or the improper performance of an obligation arising from an agreement, giving the creditor the right to performance, damages and/or dissolution of the contract.

Warmtekostenverdeling

Heating cost allocation

Heating cost allocation is the system by which heating costs are distributed among the residents of a building.

Wat is misbruik van omstandigheden

What is abuse of circumstances?

Abuse of circumstances consists in exploiting another person’s vulnerable position in order to bring about a detrimental juridical act. This may result in the avoidance of the agreement.

Wederkerig

Reciprocal

Reciprocal means that both parties to an agreement have mutual obligations towards each other.

Wederkerige overeenkomst (faillissement)

Reciprocal contract (bankruptcy)

In bankruptcy, the trustee can choose whether to honor a reciprocal contract. The counterparty can set a reasonable deadline for this choice.

Wederpartij

Counterparty

The other party is the opposing party in legal proceedings or an agreement. It refers to the person or entity standing on the opposite side from the client in a dispute or contractual relationship.

Weens koopverdrag

Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods

The Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, also known as the CISG, is an international treaty that establishes uniform rules for international contracts for the sale of movable property between parties in contracting states.

Wegingsfactor

Weighting factor

A weighting factor is a value assigned to a particular element when calculating an average or assessment, for example in compensation calculations.

Weigerambtenaar

refusing civil servant

A weigerambtenaar is a civil registrar who refuses to solemnize marriages between persons of the same sex on grounds of conscientious objection.

Weigeringsgrond

Ground for refusal

A ground for refusal is a legal reason on the basis of which a request, permit, or registration can be refused.

Werkervaring

Work experience

Work experience is the knowledge and skills an employee has acquired through performing work. It plays a role in job applications and wage determination.

Werkgeversaansprakelijkheid

Employer's liability

Employer's liability is the liability of the employer for damage suffered by an employee in the performance of his duties, such as injury resulting from a workplace accident.

Werkgeversverklaring

Employer's Declaration

An employer's declaration is a document in which the employer confirms the employment relationship, the salary, and the duration of an employee's service.

Werkloosheid

Unemployment

Unemployment is the situation in which a person has no paid work but is available for and actively seeking employment. In the Netherlands, this conditionally entitles one to unemployment benefits.

Werkweigering

Refusal to work

Refusal to work is an employee’s refusal to perform the work agreed upon. This may be justified or unjustified and frequently results in the suspension of wages or dismissal.

Wet VBAR

Employment Relationship Clarification Act (VBAR)

Draft law introducing a legal presumption of employee status below a certain hourly rate and clarifying when a contract counts as employment rather than self-employment.

Wet kind, draagmoederschap en afstamming

Child, Surrogacy and Descent Act

Draft law regulating surrogacy in the Netherlands through a prior judicial review and simplifying the legal establishment of parenthood after birth.

Wet meer zekerheid flexwerkers

More Security for Flexible Workers Act

Draft law largely abolishing on-call contracts in favour of a basic contract with a minimum, predictable number of hours, and tightening the chain rule for temporary agency workers.

Wet rechtswaarborgen gezag, omgang en informatie

Legal Safeguards (Custody, Contact and Information) Act

Act strengthening the legal position of parents and children in custody, contact and information disputes, including mandatory information sessions on parenting after separation.

Wet stimulering arbeidsparticipatie

Act on the Stimulation of Labour Participation

The Labour Participation Incentive Act (Wsa) is a Dutch statute that seeks to increase labour market participation through adjustments to the tax system and social security.

Wet toekomst pensioenen

Future Pensions Act

Act reforming the Dutch pension system from defined-benefit promises to individual pension pots, with a transition period until 1 January 2028.

Wet werk en zekerheid

Work and Security Act

The Work and Security Act reforms dismissal law, flexible employment, and unemployment benefits. In force since 2015.

Wet werken waar je wilt

Work Where You Want Act

Draft law giving employees the right to request partly working from home or another location, which the employer may only refuse on reasonable grounds.

Wettelijke grondslag

Legal basis

A legal basis is the statutory provision on which a decision, action, or processing of personal data is based.

Wettelijke verdeling

Statutory distribution

Statutory distribution is the default succession arrangement whereby the surviving spouse receives all assets and the children receive a claim.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by sudden acceleration-deceleration of the head, usually in a traffic accident.

Whiplashsyndroom

Whiplash syndrome

Whiplash syndrome is a collection of complaints arising from sudden acceleration-deceleration of the neck, usually in a traffic accident.

Wijzigingsbeding

Variation clause

A variation clause is a contractual provision by which one party is entitled to unilaterally amend the terms of the agreement.

Wilsgebrek

Defect of will

A defect of will is a flaw in the consensus of the parties when entering into a juristic act, which may affect the validity of that act.

Wilsgebreken

Defects of consent

Defects of consent are circumstances in which a party's will was not freely or correctly formed when entering a contract, such as mistake, fraud, or duress.

Wilsovereenstemming

Meeting of the minds

Mutual assent is the mutual consent of the parties to the essential elements of a contract, which is required for its formation.

Wilsverklaring

Declaration of intent

A declaration of intent is an expression of a person's will aimed at a specific legal effect, such as entering into a contract.

Winst

Profit

Profit is the positive difference between a company's income and costs over a given period.

Winstdelingsregeling

Profit-sharing arrangement

A profit-sharing arrangement is an agreement whereby employees share in the company's profits in addition to their regular salary.

Witwassen

Money laundering

Money laundering is concealing or disguising the origin of money derived from criminal activities so it appears to have been obtained legally.

Wondverzorging

Wound care

Wound care encompasses the medical treatment and care of injuries. In personal injury cases, these costs can be recovered from the liable party.

Woningstichting

Housing association

A housing association is an institution that builds, rents, and manages social housing. They are bound by rules on rent prices and allocation.

Woningwet

Housing Act

The Housing Act regulates supervision of housing corporations and sets requirements for construction, management, and rental of social housing in the Netherlands.

Woonbestemming

Residential designation

Residential designation is the zoning plan designation of a plot or building for residential purposes.

Woonlasten

Housing costs

Housing costs are all costs associated with occupying a residence, such as rent or mortgage, municipal taxes, and energy costs.

Woonoppervlakte

Living area

The living area is the number of square meters of living space in a dwelling, calculated according to NEN standards.

Woordmerk

Word mark

A word mark is a mark consisting exclusively of words, letters or numerals. It is distinguished from figurative marks by the absence of graphic elements.

Wrongful birth

Wrongful birth is a claim by parents against a doctor who failed to timely inform them of abnormalities in the unborn child.

Wrongful life

Wrongful life is a claim on behalf of the child against a doctor for not preventing their birth with serious abnormalities.