The eleven district courts are the workhorses of the system, each divided into sectors for civil, criminal, administrative and subdistrict (kanton) matters. Nearly every case starts here, and most are heard by a single judge, with three-judge benches reserved for the more serious or complex.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- first instance
- Court type
- Courts of first instance
- Jurisdiction
- Regional — eleven districts
- Seat
- Eleven districts nationwide
- Composition
- Single judges and three-judge chambers across civil, criminal, administrative and kanton divisions.
- Languages
- Dutch
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to a Gerechtshof; administrative appeals to the Council of State or specialised high courts.
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