Netherlands · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Netherlands, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Constitution (Grondwet)
- Binding on the legislature, but not enforceable against statute by the courts.
- Treaties and EU law
- Directly effective provisions prevail over national statute under Article 94.
- Statutes (wetten)
- Enacted jointly by the government and the States General.
- Codes
- The recodified Burgerlijk Wetboek, Wetboek van Strafrecht and procedural codes.
- Delegated legislation
- Royal decrees, ministerial regulations, provincial and municipal by-laws.
- Case law
- No formal stare decisis, but Hoge Raad rulings are followed consistently.
The legislative process
A bill is submitted to the Advisory Division of the Council of State for an opinion, then to the Tweede Kamer, which may amend it, and then to the Eerste Kamer, which may only accept or reject. After adoption it is signed by the King and the responsible minister and published in the Staatsblad.
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