Checklist for Debt Collection in the The Netherlands

5 years (ordinary term for commercial and civil debts, special regimes apply to different claims)

Written statement from creditor in which it demands payment or reserves rights thereto

Not mandatory (but strongly recommended as preliminary proof)

Depending on the value of the claim: District Courts (in Dutch: Rechtbank) for EUR 25,000,- and up Subdistrict Court (in Dutch: Kanongerecht) for less than EUR 25,000,-

No need of a formal proxy

Contract,  invoices, statements of account, reminders, any acknowledgement of debt, useful correspondence

12 months

None. Within EU for uncontested claims European Payment Order

Extrajudicial costs: reimbursed via BIK scale. In proceedings: become court costs (art. 241 DCCP). Court costs: awarded per liquidation rate.

Two types of statutory interest: regular (art, 119 DCCP) and commercial (art. 119a DCCP)