Netherlands · Subdistrict court judge (kantonrechter, claims up to €25,000)

Subdistrict court judge (kantonrechter, claims up to €25,000) — Netherlands

Format requirements for this court

Court and track	Subdistrict court judge (kantonrechter, claims up to €25,000)
Paper	A4
Margins	2.5 cm · 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm
Type	Arial, 12 pt
Line spacing	1.5
Paragraph numbering	{n}.

Twelve point type, 1.5 line spacing and continuously numbered paragraphs so that a paragraph can be cited.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
Rechtspraak.nl: kantonrechter, formulieren en procederen zonder advocaat

Subdistrict court judge (kantonrechter, claims up to €25,000)

The dagvaarding is served by a bailiff and contains, under article 111 Rv, the names and addresses of the parties, the claim, the grounds for it and the arguments on which the claim rests, with a list of the evidence and the attachments. A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins, 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing, numbered paragraphs.

EUR 25,000 — The kantonrechter hears claims of up to €25,000, whether the claim comes from a consumer, a tenant or an employee. Representation by a lawyer is not compulsory before the kantonrechter.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Court of first instance, civil sector (commercial cases above €25,000)

In these cases a lawyer drafts the dagvaarding and brings the case before the rechtbank. This pack supplies only the factual account and the formatting requirements; it is not a lawyer and does not provide the compulsory representation.

EUR 25,000 — Above €25,000 the case is heard by the rechtbank, where representation by a lawyer is compulsory. This tool does not arrange a lawyer and does not replace that assistance; the fact summary it produces can be handed to a lawyer.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Filing checklist - what to bring, in how many copies, and why documents get returned.

The dagvaarding with the names and addresses of the parties, the claim, its grounds and the arguments on which the claim rests.
Dagvaarding (artikel 111 Rv); bij de kantonrechter zijn ook standaardformulieren beschikbaar
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
- Rechtspraak.nl: kantonrechter, formulieren en procederen zonder advocaat
Instruct a bailiff to serve the dagvaarding; the bailiff also arranges entry of the case with the court.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
Pay the court fee within the period the court sets; without payment the case is not heard.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Rijksoverheid: procederen zonder advocaat, kantonrechter en griffierecht
No lawyer is needed before the kantonrechter; above €25,000 representation by a lawyer is compulsory and this tool does not arrange it.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Rijksoverheid: procederen zonder advocaat, kantonrechter en griffierecht
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
All documents as attachments, numbered continuously from 1, with an index of attachments giving number, name and date.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
A list of the means of evidence, including the names and addresses of any witnesses.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins on all sides, 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing and paragraphs numbered continuously from 1.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Rechtspraak.nl: kantonrechter, formulieren en procederen zonder advocaat
The language of the proceedings is Dutch. Another language may be used only with the defendant's written consent or where the protected interest does not require Dutch; documents in English, German or French usually need no translation.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
In Friesland, Frisian may be used under the Wet gebruik Friese taal; notify the court in good time.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wet gebruik Friese taal (use of Frisian in Friesland)
Keep a copy of the served dagvaarding and put the case number on every later document.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Rechtspraak.nl: kantonrechter, formulieren en procederen zonder advocaat

Why filings get sent back

The document is not signed. Without a signature the registry does not process it.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
The dagvaarding has not been served by a bailiff. In this procedure the dagvaarding must be served on the defendant by a bailiff before the case is heard.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
The claim, its grounds or the arguments on which it rests are missing, although article 111 Rv requires them.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
The court fee has not been paid, so the case is not entered on the roll.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Rijksoverheid: procederen zonder advocaat, kantonrechter en griffierecht
The case has been brought before the wrong court: the amount or the defendant's address points to a different court.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)
The documents are drawn up in another language without meeting the conditions of article 32 Rv, or without a translation of a document that does require one.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering, Boek I titel 10, art. 111 (inhoud dagvaarding), art. 32 (taal van de procedure) en art. 34 en 35 (indiening)

The language you read here and the language of the documents are set separately.

Document language: Nederlands, English. This is set by the court, not by the language you are reading now.

Nederlands (Required)
The language of the proceedings is in principle Dutch: the dagvaarding, the statements and the judgment are in Dutch. In Friesland, Frisian may be used under the Wet gebruik Friese taal.
English
Under article 32 Rv the language of the proceedings is in principle Dutch, but the parties may use another language if the summoned party gives written consent or if the interest that the law seeks to protect does not require Dutch. Evidence in English, German or French generally does not need a translation.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Disclosure: what this document set is and is not

This document set was assembled by a document preparation aid that organises the facts you supplied and aligns page format with the requirements published for the court named on the cover. It is not legal advice, it does not replace a lawyer, and no lawyer is involved or has reviewed your documents. No opinion is given on the strength of your case or on which rule applies to it. You remain responsible for the contents of every document you file, for meeting every deadline, and for checking each format rule and each reference yourself. The source of every format rule is listed in the filing checklist.

I have read this disclosure and I understand that this pack is a format and fact-organisation aid, not legal advice, that no lawyer is needed for the kantonrechter and that no lawyer is involved.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

Confirm you understand: citations are not verified

The system does not check whether a citation is real. You are responsible for checking each one in the official database: wetten.overheid.nl (Basiswettenbestand) and rechtspraak.nl (uitspraken).

wetten.overheid.nl (Basiswettenbestand) and rechtspraak.nl (uitspraken)

Check this reference yourself: confirm that the provision or decision exists, is still in force, and has not been changed by a later amendment or decision.

Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.

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