What is the commercial interest rate in the Netherlands?

Dutch term: Handelsrente | Legal basis: Article 6:119a BW

The statutory commercial interest rate (handelsrente) under article 6:119a of the Dutch Civil Code applies automatically to overdue B2B commercial payments. It is calculated by reference to the European Central Bank's main refinancing operation rate plus a statutory margin of 8 percentage points, with the combined rate published twice a year by the Dutch Ministry of Finance.

The commercial interest rate is significantly higher than the ordinary statutory interest rate (wettelijke rente, article 6:119 BW, currently 4%). It applies by operation of law from the moment the debtor is in default, without needing to be agreed in the contract, and cannot be reduced to the detriment of the creditor. Interest is compounded annually under article 6:119(2) BW.

Why it matters for international businesses

For international creditors with overdue Dutch invoices, the high commercial interest rate creates strong financial pressure on debtors to pay promptly, especially when combined with the fixed recovery costs under the WIK.