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Resolution judge

This is a print of a page on Rechtspraak.nl. Look for the most up-to-date information on Rechtspraak.nl (http://www.rechtspraak.nl). This page is printed on 01-01-1970.

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Resolution judge

 

Some district courts have a resolution judge. If people have a dispute, they can easily initiate proceedings with the resolution judge to resolve the dispute. 

The resolution judge will work with both parties involved to try and find a resolution. What if that is not possible? Then the judge will decide. The resolution judge can also help parties make payment arrangements if there are unpaid bills from health insurers, housing associations or energy suppliers. 

These proceedings provide a simple way for parties to bring a case, allow for a faster scheduling of oral hearings, simplify the dispute and are aimed at reaching an amicable settlement at the oral hearing.


 

Disputes

Both individuals and businesses can submit a matter to the resolution judge if they are prepared to listen to each other and want to resolve the matter together. Disputes can be submitted to the resolution judge if they involve money or other claims, such as in the fields of housing, purchases or work.

From 2025, there are experimental proceedings where a person can go to the resolution judge even if the other party does not want to. These proceedings are available only for:

  • Disputes involving an amount of up to 5,000 euro, for example about an incorrect delivery or repair, or borrowed money
  • Disputes about underpaid or unpaid wages, unpaid or incorrectly paid invoices for work performed, rehabilitation, dismissal or collective bargaining agreements, as well as rights and working conditions of, for example, migrant workers (migrant workers also get help from The Legal Desk) (in Dutch)

These experimental proceedings will run until the end of 2027. The experiment is aimed at establishing whether the resolution judge also offers advantages when only one of the parties decides to submit the dispute to the resolution judge.

Payment agreement

If you are in arrears with a creditor such as a health insurer, housing association or energy supplier, the resolution judge provides a low-threshold manner to help you agree on a realistic repayment arrangement.

The court invites the respondent by letter, WhatsApp message or email for the informal hearing.

In addition to the health insurer, housing association or energy supplier, also a municipal debt counsellor is present at the hearing. This counsellor will help make a realistic payment arrangement and, if there are more debts, engage in further discussions about resolving them.

 

Is going to the resolution judge not an option?

If proceedings cannot be brought before the resolution judge, you can use the regular proceedings in the subdistrict court or civil court or the administrative court.