Law firm in the Netherlands

MAAK Advocaten is an independent commercial law firm in Amsterdam advising international businesses on Dutch law. We are Dutch lawyers (advocaten) registered with the Netherlands Bar Association (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten), and our practice is built around three areas where international clients need certainty: commercial contracts under Dutch law, commercial litigation before Dutch courts, and EU product compliance.

Our clients are manufacturers, importers, distributors, commercial agents and their trading partners across the supply chain. We work in English, German and Dutch. Clients reach the specialist handling their file directly, fees are agreed in advance, and an initial conversation about a new matter is at no charge.

Dutch law firm for international businesses

International businesses choose MAAK Advocaten because they need a Dutch law firm that understands how cross-border commercial relationships work. Our lawyers advise on the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek), EU regulations, and the intersection of Dutch law with the legal systems our clients operate in. Whether a matter involves a contract governed by Dutch law, a dispute before the District Court of Amsterdam, or a product compliance question from a Dutch importer, we provide legal advice that is practical, direct and commercially informed.

The firm is based at Kraanspoor 34 in Amsterdam-Noord, a short distance from Amsterdam Centraal. Our lawyers appear before all Dutch courts, including the Netherlands Commercial Court (NCC) in Amsterdam where proceedings run entirely in English, and in international arbitration under NAI, ICC and UNCITRAL rules.

Our practice areas under Dutch law

Commercial law firm in the Netherlands. Our core commercial practice: contract drafting, trade along the supply chain, debt recovery and commercial disputes for international businesses with Dutch-law matters.

Contract law firm in the Netherlands. Drafting, negotiating, reviewing and enforcing commercial agreements under Dutch law, from distribution and agency agreements to sale of goods contracts and franchise arrangements. See also our guide to Dutch contract law for the legal framework.

Litigation law firm in the Netherlands. Commercial litigation before Dutch District Courts (rechtbanken), Courts of Appeal (gerechtshoven), the Netherlands Commercial Court, and in domestic and international arbitration. See also our guide to litigation in the Netherlands.

Product compliance law firm in the Netherlands. CE marking, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the Machinery Regulation, REACH, RoHS, NVWA market surveillance, product recalls and product liability for manufacturers, importers and distributors. Led by Martin Krüger.

International trade law firm in the Netherlands. Cross-border sale of goods, the CISG (Vienna Sales Convention), Incoterms, international distribution, commercial agency, franchise and EU trade regulation.

Corporate law firm in the Netherlands. Dutch B.V. incorporation, shareholders' agreements, directors' duties under Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, and corporate governance for international groups with Dutch operations.

English-speaking business lawyer in the Netherlands. For international clients who need a Dutch lawyer whose working language is English and who understands the commercial context in which international businesses operate.

Commercial contracts under Dutch law

A substantial part of our work as a Dutch law firm involves the agreements that govern B2B trading relationships: distribution agreements, commercial agency agreements (including goodwill indemnity under article 7:442 of the Dutch Civil Code), franchise agreements under the Dutch Franchise Act (Wet franchise), purchase agreements under Dutch sale of goods law, and international sale of goods contracts under the CISG. Our international contracting practice covers governing law, jurisdiction clauses, force majeure, sanctions and the boilerplate provisions that international contracts require.

When contracts need to end, our termination of contract practice covers the three distinct Dutch mechanisms: notice-based termination (opzegging), rescission for breach (ontbinding under article 6:265 BW), and annulment (vernietiging). The notice of default (ingebrekestelling) procedure is the step most foreign parties underestimate.

Litigation and enforcement in the Netherlands

When disputes become unavoidable, our lawyers in Amsterdam handle breach of contract litigation, summary proceedings (kort geding) for urgent matters, commercial debt collection combined with pre-judgment attachment (conservatoir beslag), international arbitration under NAI, ICC and UNCITRAL rules, enforcement of Dutch and foreign judgments under the Brussels I Recast Regulation, and jurisdiction and forum disputes in cross-border matters. The combination of pre-judgment attachment and summary proceedings is one of the reasons Dutch courts are often the preferred forum for international commercial creditors. The litigation practice is led by Sander van Someren Gréve.

How we work as a law firm in Amsterdam

MAAK Advocaten is led by three partners, Remko Roosjen (commercial contracts), Martin Krüger (product compliance) and Sander van Someren Gréve (litigation and arbitration), supported by a team of 18 lawyers. International clients reach the specialist handling their file directly, without intermediating layers. Our working languages are English, German and Dutch. Contracts, correspondence, strategy sessions and court submissions are handled in whichever language fits the matter best.

Fees are agreed in advance on a fixed-fee, hourly or hybrid basis, as described on our lawyer fees page. There are no surprise line items and no hidden costs. For the firm's regulatory information, including our Dutch Bar registration entry, professional indemnity insurance and complaints procedure, see our legal information page.

Contact our law firm in the Netherlands

A first conversation about a new matter is at no charge. Call +31 20 210 31 38, email mail@maakadvocaten.nl, or visit our contact page. MAAK Advocaten is based at Kraanspoor 34, 1033 SE Amsterdam.

For an overview of our legal dictionary, see our glossary of Dutch legal terms (300+ entries) and the EU product compliance glossary. For the latest articles from our lawyers, visit our blog.