The kantonrechter is a single-judge role inside each district court that handles employment and tenancy disputes, consumer cases and civil claims up to EUR 25,000. Its defining feature is accessibility: parties may appear in person without a lawyer, which makes it the court most ordinary people actually encounter.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- first instance
- Court type
- Single-judge division for employment, tenancy and smaller claims
- Jurisdiction
- Employment, tenancy, consumer and civil claims up to EUR 25,000
- Seat
- Within each district court
- Composition
- A single judge.
- Appointment
- A function performed by district-court judges.
- Languages
- Dutch
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to a Gerechtshof, subject to a minimum value threshold.
Filing at this court
- Representation
- No lawyer required; parties may appear in person
- Jurisdiction
- Employment and tenancy regardless of value; other civil claims up to EUR 25,000
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