1 BASIC LEGAL CONCEPTS

BASISBEGRIPPEN

Positive or objective law1 is the body ofrules that govern and regulate society.2

Private or civil law3 is the law that applies topersons in their relations with each other.

Dutch civil law is laid down in the DutchCivil Code,4 which comprises the followingareas of law: the law of persons and familylaw,5 the law of juridical persons,6 patri-monial law,7 the law of property,8 the lawof inheritance,9 the law of obligations10

and contract law,11 including special con-tracts,12 and the law of transport.13

Business law14 deals with the rules involvedin conducting a business.15

Public law16 is the law governing the rela-tionship between a state and its people.

Constitutional law17 defines the principalbodies of government, the distribution ofpowers,18 and the influence citizens can exerton19 government.

Administrative law20 is the law governingthe powers that the state has to regulate life insociety.

Criminal law21 involves the state actingthrough the Public Prosecution Service22

to enforce rules upon citizens by means ofsanctions.

1 positief recht2 samenleving

3 burgerlijk recht

4 Burgerlijk Wetboek 5 personen-en familierecht 6 rechtsperso-

nenrecht; 7 vermogensrecht8 goederenrecht; 9 erfrecht

10 verbintenissenrecht11 overeenkomstenrecht

12 bijzondere overeenkomsten13 vervoersrecht

14 ondernemingsrecht15 bedrijf

16 publiekrecht

17 staatsrecht

18 bevoegdheden19 uitoefenen (van invloed)

20 bestuursrecht

21 strafrecht22 Openbaar Ministerie

1

In the Netherlands, an Act23 is any rule thathas come into existence through legislative24

cooperation between the government25 andthe States-General or Parliament.26

A law or statute27 is any rule aimed at anindefinite and not specifically named numberof persons. A law should issue from28 acompetent government body.29

A treaty30 is an agreement31 between two ormore states that may be bilateral,32 i.e. betweentwo states, or multilateral,33 i.e. between morethan two states. Case law34 is law embodied injudicial decisions35 by the courts of law.36

Case law is founded upon the principle oflegal certainty,37 according to which decisionsby superior courts have precedent effect.38

Methods of interpretation39 help the judgeinterpret and explain vague concepts. In theNetherlands the literal rule,40 the anticipa-tory,41 the comparative,42 systematic andhistorical methods are applied.43

Customary law44 is unwritten law that appliesbecause it is always observed within a particulargroup in society. This group considers it their legalduty to observe45 these customary rules.

Substantive law46 is that part of law thatdeals with legal rights and duties.

Procedural or adjective law47 deals with theright to take legal action. It provides rules ondeciding which court to go to, matters of legalprocedure and the applicable limitationperiods.48

23 wet in formele zin24 wetgevende25 regering26 parlement

27 wet in materiële zin

28 afkomstig zijn van29 overheidsorgaan

30 verdrag; 31 overeenkomst32 bilateraal33 multilateraal34 jurisprudentie35 beslissingen, uitspraken36 gerechten, rechterlijke instanties37 rechtszekerheidsbeginsel38 precedentwerking

39 interpretatiemethoden40 grammaticale methode41 anticiperende42 rechtsvergelijkende43 toegepast

44 gewoonterecht

45 opvolgen

46 materieel recht

47 formeel recht

48 termijnen

CHAPTER 1 BASIC LEGAL CONCEPTS

2

Coercive law49 is law from which persons maynot deviate.50 If they do, legal rules apply.

Permissive law or ius dispositum51 is lawfrom which persons may deviate and that onlyapplies when parties have not agreed upon aparticular issue.

Law52 results from the current sources oflaw,53 statutes, laws, treaties, case law andcustomary law. The writings of legal scho-lars54 may carry weight, but are not conside-red sources of law.

In the Netherlands, students who wish tobecome a lawyer55 have to obtain an LLMdegree56 from one of the law schools orfaculties of law.57

In the Netherlands, a law degree course58

consists of a preliminary or propaedeuticyear,59 and the end of which students areawarded their first-year or propaedeuticcertificate.60 This is followed by two yearsof obligatory courses61 and optional cour-ses or options,62 leading to the bachelor’sdegree.63 An additional year of lectures64

and tutorials65 and the writing of a master’sthesis.66 The master’s degree is one of theentry requirements67 for admission to thebar68 is unclear.

In recent years placements69 have becomemore important for law students. It enablesthem, for example, to gain an impression ofwhat it is like to be employed by a law firm70

as a trainee attorney-at-law.71

49 dwingend recht50 afwijken

51 aanvullend recht

52 objectief recht53 rechtsbronnen

54 doctrine

55 jurist56 graad van master

57 juridische faculteiten

58 rechtenopleiding

59 propedeuse60 propedeusediploma61 verplichte cursussen

62 keuzevakken63 graad van bachelor

64 hoorcolleges65 werkcolleges

66 masters- of doctoraalscriptie67 toelatingseisen

68 toelating tot de balie

69 stages

70 advocatenkantoor71 advocaat-stagiaire

BASISBEGRIPPEN HOOFDSTUK 1

3

2 JURIDICAL ACTS AND CONTRACTS

RECHTSHANDELINGEN EN OVEREENKOMSTEN

A juristic fact72 is a legally relevant factbecause there is a legal rule that states that ithas legal consequences.73

Bare juristic facts74 are facts that have legalconsequences, but whose occurrence cannotbe influenced. Some examples of bare juristicfacts are birth, death and the coming of age.75

Factual acts76 are acts that may carry legalconsequences regardless of 77 whether thoseconsequences are willed.

A juridical act78 is a juristic fact that isintended.79 The prototypical legal act is thecontract.

A voidable juridical act80 is a juridical actthat has legal effect81 until it is nullified/voided82 by an extrajudicial statement83 ora judicial decision.

A nullity84 is a juridical act that is consideredto be void from the beginning.

Incapacity85 is the inability to perform invi-olable juridical acts.86 Minors,87 personsin ward88 and those placed, by judicialorder,89 in an institution for the insane90

are incapable.91

Juridical acts are void if their content92

or necessary implications93 conflict withpublic morals94 or public order.95

72 rechtsfeit

73 rechtsgevolgen

74 blote rechtsfeiten

75 meerderjarig worden

76 feitelijke handelingen77 ongeacht

78 rechtshandeling79 beoogd

80 vernietigbare rechtshandeling81 rechtskracht

82 vernietigd 83 buitengerechte-lijke verklaring

84 nietige rechtshandeling

85 handelingsonbekwaamheid86 onaantastbare rechtshandelingen87 minderjarigen; 88 onder curatele

89 op grond van een rechterlijkbevel; 90 psychiatrische inrichting

91 handelingsonbekwaam92 inhoud

93 strekking94 goede zeden 95 openbare orde

5

Certain categories of officials are disquali-fied96 from performing juridical acts aimedat the acquisition97 of property.

Non-obligatory juridical acts98 performedby debtors to the detriment of 99 theircreditors are voidable.

Under Dutch law, agency100 may exist byoperation of law,101 by tacit or expressprocuration or power of attorney102 or bymandate.103 Three parties are involved: theprincipal,104 the agent, attorney, or man-datary105 and the third party.106

A binding or obligatory contract107 is anagreement between two or more persons,resulting in one or more obligations.108

A reciprocal contract109 is an agreement bywhich both parties acquire a right and take ona duty.

A unilateral contract110 is an agreementresulting in only one obligation, wherebyone party obtains a right and the other partytakes on a duty.

An accessory contract111 is a contract that isincidental to another or principal obligation.

A subscription112 is an example of a con-tinuing performance contract.113

Offer and acceptance114 are acts performedby at least two persons and are essential to acontract.

An irrevocable offer115 cannot be revokedbecause an express term has been set withinwhich the offer can be accepted.

96 handelingsonbevoegd97 verkrijging

98 onverplichte rechtshandelingen99 ten nadele van

100 vertegenwoordiging101 van rechtswege102 volmacht; 103 lastgeving104 principaal105 vertegenwoordiger, gevol-machtigde, of lasthebber; 106 derde

107 obligatoire overeenkomst

108 verbintenissen

109 wederkerige overeenkomst

110 eenzijdige overeenkomst

111 accessoire overeenkomst

112 abonnement113 duurovereenkomst

114 aanbod en aanvaarding

115 onherroepelijk aanbod

CHAPTER 2 JURIDICAL ACTS AND CONTRACTS

6

According to the doctrine of will andreliance,116 a statement that is contrary towill cannot lead to a contract. Nevertheless, acontract exists if the other party had reason toassume that there was no conflict between willand expression of will.

Vitiated consent117 is a legal concept118 thatmay lead to annulment of a contract becausethe consent119 was defective, although willand intent do correspond.120 The followingforms of vitiated consent exist under Dutchlaw: error,121 threat122 and fraud123 andabuse of circumstances.124

The restrictive effect of reasonablenessand fairness125 may cause part of a contractthat is unreasonable or unfair to be consideredas never having been written and thereforeinapplicable126 to the legal relationship betweenthe parties involved.

The supplementing effect of reasonablenessand fairness127 may bring into effect legalobligations between parties, although there isno explicit agreement on these obligations inthe contract.

An exemption or exclusion clause128 is astipulation129 that one of the contractingparties has excluded itself from liability130

for damage131 to the other party.

A guaranty/guarantee132 is a stipulation inwhich one of the contracting parties agrees tocompensate133 particular types of damage ifthey occur, whereas it could not be held tocompensation without that stipulation.

116 wils- en vertrouwensleer

117 wilsgebrek; 118 rechtsfiguur

119 wil120 overeenkomen

121 dwaling; 122 bedreiging123 bedrog; 124 misbruik van

omstandigheden

125 beperkende werking vanredelijkheid en billijkheid

126 niet van toepassing

127 aanvullende werking vanredelijkheid en billijkheid

128 exoneratiebeding129 beding

130 aansprakelijkheid131 schade

132 garantieverplichting

133 vergoeden

RECHTSHANDELINGEN EN OVEREENKOMSTEN HOOFDSTUK 2

7

Breach of contract134 is non-performance,135

late or inferior performance136 of that towhich one is bound.

Performance137 is a claim138 for the otherparty to act in accordance with the contract.

A fungible chose139 is a chose that is identicalto others of the same nature.

A chose in specie140 is a chose that possessescertain individuality. The distinction betweena fungible and in specie chose may be ofimportance if, for example, delivery is claimedof goods that have been destroyed.

Alternative compensation141 is claimedwhen performance of the contract by the otherparty is waived142 and damages are soughtwhich result from non-performance.

Additional damages143 are claimed wheninstead of or in addition to performance,dissolution144 or damages in lieu of perfor-mance damages for delay or consequences aresought as a result of non-performance.

A notice of default145 is a written notificationto the debtor146 that he must fulfil his con-tractual obligations.

A notice of cancellation147 is a notice to thedebtor that he is discharged from performanceand that alternative compensation will besought.

The debtor is in default148 when he hasallowed the term specified in the default noticeto expire.149

134 wanprestatie135 niet-nakoming 136 ondeug-delijke nakoming

137 nakoming; 138 vordering

139 genuszaak

140 specieszaak

141 vervangende schadevergoeding

142 afzien van nakoming

143 aanvullende schadevergoeding

144 ontbinding

145 ingebrekestelling146 schuldenaar

147 omzettingsmededeling

148 verzuim

149 verstrijken

CHAPTER 2 JURIDICAL ACTS AND CONTRACTS

8

Force majeure150 exists when the debtorcannot be ordered151 to pay damages becauseevents have occurred due to which he isunable to perform. It has to be proven thatthe debtor is not to blame and that the law, acontract, or generally accepted views152 donot make the debtor liable.

Dissolution153 may be claimed followingnon-performance of the debtor. Both partiesare discharged from the obligations emanatingfrom the contract. Discharge for breach has noretroactive effect.154

The right to suspend performance155 isthe right not to perform until the otherparty does. The right to suspend performancecan be exercised by invoking the exceptionon adimpleti contractus156 or the right ofretention.157

150 overmacht151 veroordelen (burgerlijk

procesrecht)

152 verkeersopvattingen

153 ontbinding

154 terugwerkende kracht

155 opschortingsrecht

156 exceptio non adimpleticontractus

157 retentierecht

RECHTSHANDELINGEN EN OVEREENKOMSTEN HOOFDSTUK 2

9

3 SOME SPECIAL CONTRACTS

BIJZONDERE OVEREENKOMSTEN

A purchase agreement158 is concluded159

when one party commits itself to giving achose, in exchange for the payment of a priceby the other party.

A consumer sale160 is the purchase by aprivate161 buyer of a movable chose from aretailer.162 Consumers are afforded extra protec-tion, in that the rights and actions that the lawprovides against breach of contract may not beexcluded or limited. General conditions163 tothis effect are considered unreasonablyonerous.164

Goods165 delivered must conform with thedescription or sample and be fit for theirparticular purpose. In the case of non-conformity,166 the purchase agreement isgenerally voidable.

If a buyer fails to pay the price for goodsreceived, the seller may reclaim or bring anaction for revendication or exercise hisright of revendication of those goods167

In a barter or exchange contract168 partiesagree to reciprocally169 exchange goods.

A commission contract170 is an agreementunder which a commissionee171 undertakesto perform a task of an intangible nature for aclient or customer,172 without there being arelationship of employment between parties.Two specific commission contracts are the

158 koopovereenkomst159 sluiten (v.e. overeenkomst)

160 consumentenkoop161 particuliere

162 detaillist

163 algemene voorwaarden

164 onredelijk bezwarend

165 artikelen, dingen

166 non-conformiteit

167 reclameren, reclamerechtuitoefenen, revindiceren

168 ruilovereenkomst169 wederzijds, over en weer

170 overeenkomst van opdracht171 opdrachtnemer

172 opdrachtgever

11

intermediary contract173 and the agencyagreement.174

Mandate175 is a contract under which a man-datary176 undertakes to perform juridical actsfor the account of the mandator.177

Under a contract for medical treatment178

the aid worker179 commits himself to performmedical operations for the benefit of a client orthird party patient.

A travel contract180 is in force between atraveller and the tour operator181 whoorganises a package tour182 lasting at leasttwenty-four hours and comprising183 trans-portation,184 stay185 or another tourist serviceessential to the tour. The contract must beexecuted186 in conformity with the tourist’sreasonable expectations.

Deposit187 involves the placing by a deposi-tor188 of a movable or immovable chose witha depositary,189 who undertakes to preserveand return that specific chose to him, inexchange for pay.

Suretyship190 is a contract whereby asurety191 obliges himself towards a creditorto perform an obligation that a third party, theprincipal debtor,192 has or will have towardthe creditor.

By means of a contract of settlement193

parties ascertain what is right by law betweenthem194 and thus solve existing or preventpotential disputes about that.

In the contract for sale and purchase ofgoods in instalments195 parties agree that

173 bemiddelingsovereenkomst174 agentuurovereenkomst

175 lastgeving176 lastnemer177 lastgever

178 overeenkomst inzakegeneeskundige behandeling179 hulpverlener

180 reisovereenkomst181 reisorganisator182 pakketreis, georganiseerde reis183 omvattend184 vervoer; 185verblijf

186 uitvoeren (v.e. overeenkomst)

187 bewaarneming188 bewaargever189 bewaarnemer

190 borgtocht191 borg

192 hoofdschuldenaar

193 vaststellingsovereenkomst

194 wat rechtens tussen hen geldt

195 koop en verkoop opafbetaling

CHAPTER 3 SOME SPECIAL CONTRACTS

12

the purchase price is paid in two or moreinstalments196 after the goods sold havebeen delivered to the buyer. The contracttakes effect197 as soon as the parties havedecided on the purchase price.

Hire purchase198 is the sale and purchase ininstalments, whereby the parties agree that theownership of the goods sold does not pass199

by the sole200 delivery of the goods, but bythe fulfilment of the suspensory condition201

of full payment of what the buyer is owingpursuant to the contract.

A tenancy agreement (for immovable or realproperty) or lease (immovables or mova-bles)202 is a contract whereby one party, thelandlord or lessor, grants the other party, thetenant or lessee, the enjoyment of a chose for aspecific period of time, in exchange for aspecified rent or compensation. There arespecial provisions for the rent of houses andbusiness premises.203

An agricultural holding or farming lease<US>204 is a tenancy of agricultural land.

Under Dutch law tenancy agreements arenot affected by sale.205

A gift or donation inter vivos206 is a con-tract under which one party, the donor207

gives a bien to another party, the donee,208

for no consideration.209

Dutch law distinguishes between a loan for useor commodatum210 on the one hand, and theloan for consumption or mutuum.211 The

196 betalingstermijnen

197 wordt van kracht

198 huurkoop

199 overgaan (v. eigendom)200 enkele

201 opschortende voorwaarde

202 overeenkomst van huur enverhuur

203 bedrijfsruimte

204 pachtovereenkomst

205 koop breekt geen huur

206 schenking207 schenker

208 begiftigde209 om niet

210 bruiklening211 verbruiklening

BIJZONDERE OVEREENKOMSTEN HOOFDSTUK 3

13

former must be specifically returned, the latterin kind.212

An aleatory contract213 is a mutual agree-ment of which the effects, both as to benefitsand losses, whether to all parties or to some ofthem depend upon an uncertain event.

The contract of insurance214 is an aleatorycontract under which one party, the insureror underwriter,215 undertakes to make pay-ment to the other party, the insured216 and/or policyholder,217 in exchange for pre-mium payments.218 On entering into thecontract, parties not know whether, when orto which amount payment will be due. Thecontract is laid down in a written document,called the insurance policy.219 Two maintypes of contracts are distinguished: the in-demnity insurance220 and the contingencyinsurance.221

An annuity contract222 obliges the insurerto make periodic payments to the annuitantfor life or for a term of years, in exchange forthe payment of premiums or a singlepremium.223

Book 8 of the New Dutch Civil Code makesprovision for carriage,224 ownership andregistration of means of carriage,225

vessels226 and aircraft,227 forwardingagents,228 carriage of goods and personsby sea229 inland navigation,230 shippingcompanies,231 bills of lading,232 the lawof transport by road and by air,233

carriage by railway,234 transportationcontracts,235 removal or relocationcontracts236 accidents and average,237 thetransportation of hazardous substances.238

212 naar soort

213 kansovereenkomst

214 verzekeringsovereenkomst

215 verzekeraar216 verzekerde217 verzekeringnemer218 premiebetalingen

219 verzekeringspolis

220 schadeverzekering221 sommenverzekering

222 overeenkomst van lijfrenten

223 koopsom

224 vervoer van personen engoederen225 vervoersmiddelen226 vaartuigen227 luchtvaartuigen; 228 expediteurs229 zeevervoer; 230 binnenvaart231 rederijen; 232 cognossementen233 weg- en luchtvervoersrecht234 vervoer langs spoorstaven235 vervoerovereenkomsten236 verhuisovereenkomsten237 averij 238 gevaarlijke stoffen

CHAPTER 3 SOME SPECIAL CONTRACTS

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The gaming contract239 is an aleatory con-tract, involving the playing of a game ofchance for money. No action can be broughtfor the recovery of money won.

Bills of exchange,240 promissory notes241

and cheques242 are now still dealt with in theCommercial Code,243 but will move toBook 7 of the New Dutch Civil Code.

239 overeenkomst van spel enweddingschap

240 wisselbrief; 241 orderbriefjes242 cheques

243 Wetboek van Koophandel

BIJZONDERE OVEREENKOMSTEN HOOFDSTUK 3

15

4 LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL ACTS (TORTS)

RECHTMATIGE EN ONRECHTMATIGE DADEN

A tort or unlawful act244 is a breach ofright,245 an act246 or omission247 violating astatutory duty or a rule of unwritten lawpertaining to proper social conduct.248

In the latter case one could also speak of aviolation of the general duty of care.249

A breach of right250 is a violation251 of asubjective right, such as the right of owner-ship,252 derived from law.

Endangerment253 is the causing of a dange-rous situation that a normal, rationally thinkingand acting person does not have to take intoconsideration.

Imputation:254 an unlawful act can beimputed255 to its author256 if it results fromhis fault257 or from a cause for which he isanswerable according to law or the generallyaccepted view.

Liability based on fault258 is the cornerstoneof the Dutch law of obligations,259 alsowith respect to the unlawful act: one is liableif one can be reproached260 for the act.

There has been a shift in the doctrine ofunlawful act, whereby strict liability261 istaking the place of liability based on fault.Strict liability means that one bears the con-sequences of an unlawful act, regardless ofwhether one can be reproached for it. Strictliability exists for parents and guardians262

244 onrechtmatige daad245 inbreuk op een recht; 246 eendoen; 247 een nalaten 248 hetgeenvolgens ongeschreven recht in het

maatschappelijk verkeer betaamt249 zorgvuldigheidsnorm

250 inbreuk op een recht251 inbreuk, schending

252 eigendomsrecht

253 gevaarzetting

254 toerekening255 toerekenen; 256 (civiele)

dader; 257 schuld

258 schuldaansprakelijkheid259 verbintenissenrecht

260 verwijten

261 risico-aansprakelijkheid

262 voogden

17

whose children have not yet reached the age offourteen, for possessors of animals or build-ings and structures permanently fixed tothe ground,263 for users of buildings forbusiness purposes and for employers264

whose employees265 have committed anunlawful act.

Consumer protection is achieved by imposingproduct liability266 upon producers of faultygoods for damage caused by those goods.

Article 185 of the Road Traffic Act267 holdsmotorists,268 motorcyclists269 and personsriding a moped270 liable — force majeureexcepted271 — for damage resulting froma collision between their vehicles272 andcyclists273 or pedestrians.274

Damage can be divided into pecuniary275

and moral or non-pecuniary damage.276

Pecuniary damage in its turn can be dividedinto loss,277 loss of profit278 and reasonableexpenses incurred to prevent or limit thedamage.279 Moral damage is caused ifsomeone has suffered physical injury,280 injuryto his honour or reputation or if this personhas otherwise been harmed (e.g. infringementof privacy).281 In the event of moral damagenon-economic damages282 can be claimed.

There has to be a causal connection283

between the damage and the unlawful act.The damage is too remote284 if it had occurredwithout the unlawful act having beencommitted.

A justification ground or ground of justi-fication285 exists in case of self-defence,286

force majeure,287 existence of a legal

263 opstallen264 werkgevers265 werknemers

266 productaansprakelijkheid

267 Wegenverkeerswet (WVW)268 automobilisten; 269 motor-rijders; 270 bromfietsers271 behoudens overmacht272 voertuigen; 273 fietsers274 voetgangers

275 vermogensschade276 immateriële schade

277 geleden verlies 278 gederfdewinst279 redelijke kosten, gemaakt tervoorkoming of beperking vande schade; 280 lichamelijk letsel

281 inbreuk op de privésfeer282 smartengeld

283 causaal verband

284 verwijderd

285 rechtvaardigingsgrond286 noodweer287 overmacht

CHAPTER 4 LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL ACTS (TORTS)

18

duty,288 or official orders.289 A ground ofjustification makes an act, which at first appearsunlawful, not tortuitous.290

Contributory negligence291 may reduce thedamages awarded292 to the plaintiff.

The members of a group of persons may beheld jointly and severally liable293 for damagecaused by an individual member, if the risk ofthis damage should have stopped them fromtheir group conduct and this conduct can beimputed to them.

The protective norm criterion or theory294

states that there is no civil liability where thedamage lies outside the scope of the violatedrule or where it is suffered by a person the ruledid not intend to protect. As with justificationgrounds, the protective norm theory need notbe proven by the claimant <UK>/plain-tiff;295 it is a defence.296

The theory of adequate causation297 statesthat the extent298 of the damage is to bedefined by asking the question which damagewas reasonably foreseeable.299

Imputation according to reasonable-ness300 is the central criterion adopted nowa-days to determine which damage must becompensated by the person who has causedthe damage. What is reasonable depends onthe nature of the liability and the nature andforseeability of the damage.

Judicial moderation301 may occur if awardingfull reparation of damages would lead to obvi-ously unacceptable consequences. The govern-ment may order limitation of liability302

288 wettelijk voorschrift289 ambtelijk bevel

290 onrechtmatig

291 eigen schuld292 toegekend

293 hoofdelijk aansprakelijk

294 relativiteitsvereiste

295 eiser296 verweermiddel

297 adequatieleer298 omvang

299 te voorzien

300 toerekening naarredelijkheid

301 matiging

302 limitering

RECHTMATIGE EN ONRECHTMATIGE DADEN HOOFDSTUK 4

19

to prevent certain forms of liability frombecoming uninsurable.

Lawful acts303 are voluntary managementof another’s affairs,304 undue payment305

and unjustified enrichment.306

Voluntary management of another’s affairsoccurs307 when a person consciously andwith good reason undertakes to look afterthe interest of another without having thepower to do so pursuant to308 a statute oranother legal relationship provided for else-where by law.

Undue payment occurs when someone pays asum of money to another without legalground309 (e.g. contract) and thereforewithout legal obligation.

Unlawful enrichment occurs when a personhas been unjustifiably enriched at the expenseof 310 another, while a legal relationshipexisted between the persons involved.311

Apart from damages, the injured party mayseek a declaratory judgment,312 a courtorder313 or injunction314 or rectification.315

Actions may be barred by limitation,316 butthe completion of the limitation period317

may be interrupted318 by an action orprolonged.319

303 rechtmatige daden304 zaakwaarneming305 onverschuldigde betaling306 ongerechtvaardigde verrijking

307 geschieden, zich voordoen

308 overeenkomstig

309 rechtsgrond

310 ten koste van311 de betrokken personen

312 verklaring voor recht313 rechterlijk gebod; 314 rechter-lijk verbod; 315 rectificatie

316 verjaren317 verjaringstermijn318 gestuit319 verlengen

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CHAPTER 4 LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL ACTS (TORTS)

5 THE LAW OF PROPERTY

GOEDERENRECHT

The law of property320 is that part of patri-monial law which regulates321 the relations-hip between persons and their biens.322

Property is the collective term for all choses323

and patrimonial rights.324

A chose325 is any tangible corporealobject326 that may be controlled by humanbeings. Choses are either movable327 orimmovable.328

Patrimonial rights329 are rights that have aparticular financial value. An example of apatrimonial right is copyright.

A real right330 is a right which one canexercise against anyone who encroachesupon331 upon it.

A personal right332 is a right that one canexercise against one or more persons specifiedby name.333

Droit de suite334 is typical of a real right. Itmeans that a right is attached to the propertyitself, no matter who is in possession of thatproperty.

A residual right335 is a real right that isderived from a more extensive right calledthe parental right.336 The residual right limitsthe parental right.

320 goederenrecht321 regelen; reguleren

322 goederen

323 zaken324 vermogensrechten

325 zaak326 vatbaar, stoffelijk object

327 roerend328 onroerend

329 vermogensrechten

330 absoluut recht

331 inbreuk maken op

332 relatief recht

333 met name genoemd

334 zaaksgevolg

335 beperkt recht

336 moederrecht

21