How to enforce a foreign judgment in the Netherlands: step by step

Dutch term: Buitenlands vonnis executeren in NL | Legal basis: Brussels I Recast + Gazprombank

The enforcement route depends on where the judgment comes from. For EU judgments: (1) obtain an article 53 certificate from the court that issued the judgment; (2) present the judgment, the certificate and a certified translation (if needed) to a Dutch bailiff; (3) the bailiff serves the judgment on the debtor and proceeds to enforcement (seizure of bank accounts, receivables, property). No exequatur is needed under Brussels I Recast. For non-EU judgments: (1) file new proceedings before a Dutch court using the foreign judgment as evidence (the Gazprombank route); (2) the Dutch court assesses four conditions (jurisdiction, due process, public policy, no irreconcilable judgments); (3) if satisfied, the court gives the foreign judgment substantive effect; (4) the resulting Dutch judgment is enforced through the bailiff.

For arbitral awards: enforcement follows the New York Convention. The award holder files a request for exequatur with the District Court (article 1075 Rv). Grounds for refusal are narrow. Recognition is typically granted within weeks.

Why it matters for international businesses

For international creditors with a judgment or award to enforce against Dutch assets, the enforcement route determines the speed and cost of recovery. MAAK Advocaten handles all three routes and coordinates with the bailiff for the execution steps.