For internationals and expats
Personal injury in the Netherlands? We handle your case in English.
Dutch law governs your claim because the accident happened here, but we work with you in English from intake to settlement. International employers and insurers are familiar territory.
- Geen kosten voor u
- Zelfde dag reactie
- Advocaat komt bij u thuis
Geverifieerd door Jos Soetens, Letselschade advocaat (LSA) · Laatst bijgewerkt
Living and working in the Netherlands as an international means navigating Dutch law in your second or third language. After an accident, the language barrier can feel like a second injury. Zaakr handles your case in English from the first call to the final settlement, while applying Dutch personal injury law in your favour. Whether you are an expat with a global employer, a researcher on a temporary contract, an EU citizen working in the Brainport region, or a knowledge migrant, your rights under Dutch personal injury law are the same as those of Dutch nationals.
Our lawyers handle cases for international clients throughout the Netherlands from our office in Eindhoven. For the intake our lawyer comes to you; a video call is an alternative if you prefer. Written updates and correspondence about your file are in English. Only formal legal documents stay in Dutch, because the procedure takes place in the Netherlands. We give you an English summary of each one.
Your legal position
What is different in your situation.
Dutch law applies, whatever your nationality
If the accident took place in the Netherlands, Dutch personal injury law applies regardless of your nationality, residence status or where your employer is registered. The limitation period, the employer's duty of care and the extra protection for cyclists and pedestrians apply to internationals just as they do to Dutch nationals.
Work accidents: your employer is often liable
Dutch employers have a strict duty of care for your safety at work. If you are injured on the job, your employer is liable unless it proves that it took every reasonable safety measure, or that you caused the accident deliberately or through deliberate recklessness. A moment of inattention is not enough to deny your claim. Temporary agency workers can hold both the agency and the company where they worked liable. An employer registered abroad does not change this if you worked in the Netherlands.
Traffic accidents: cyclists and pedestrians are protected
If you are hit by a car while cycling or walking, the motorist's insurer usually has to pay at least half of your damage, even if you made a mistake yourself, and often all of it. Every motor vehicle in the Netherlands must be insured, so your claim goes to the insurer, not to the driver personally. If the driver fled or was uninsured, you can claim from the Dutch guarantee fund for motor traffic (Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer).
International employers and home-country insurance
Many internationals work for global firms insured by foreign insurers or by Dutch branches of international groups. You may also have accident or income cover in your home country that pays out alongside your Dutch claim. We coordinate with all insurers involved so that no entitlement is missed and nothing is paid twice.
Our approach
How we handle your case.
- 1
English-language intake
Our lawyer visits you for the intake, conducted entirely in English. We explain Dutch legal concepts as we go. After that, communication runs through our secure case portal and by phone and email.
- 2
Coordination with insurers
We file the liability claim with the Dutch insurer in Dutch and handle correspondence with your home-country insurer in English. Overlaps in cover are clarified up front to avoid missed claims.
- 3
Documentation in two languages
Medical reports, witness statements and accident records: we work with the documents as they are, in Dutch, English or another language. For every settlement decision you receive an English summary of the Dutch original, so you always know what you are signing.
- 4
Leaving the Netherlands
Planning to leave the Netherlands during or after your case? We continue the procedure on your behalf. The settlement can be paid to a Dutch or foreign bank account. Once your file is complete, your case does not require you to be in the Netherlands.
Not sure whether you have a case?
Ask for a free assessment of your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers for your situation.
Related situations (in Dutch)
Common personal injury cases.
Background (in Dutch)
Legal terms that apply.
WAM (Wet Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering Motorrijtuigen)
De WAM verplicht iedere eigenaar van een motorrijtuig tot een aansprakelijkheidsverzekering en geeft het slachtoffer een direct vorderingsrecht op de verzekeraar van de tegenpartij.
Lees uitlegZorgplicht werkgever
De wettelijke zorgplicht verplicht werkgevers alles te doen wat redelijkerwijs nodig is om letsel van werknemers te voorkomen. Bij een arbeidsongeval rust de bewijslast op de werkgever, niet op het slachtoffer.
Lees uitlegSmartengeld
Smartengeld is een vergoeding voor immateriële schade na letsel: voor pijn, verdriet, gederfde levensvreugde en blijvende beperkingen. Het staat los van materiële schade zoals medische kosten of inkomstenverlies.
Lees uitlegBuitengerechtelijke kosten
Buitengerechtelijke kosten zijn de redelijke kosten die u maakt om uw schade vast te stellen en te innen zonder naar de rechter te gaan. Bij erkende aansprakelijkheid worden deze kosten door de tegenpartij betaald, dat is de reden dat u zelf niets aan uw letselschade advocaat hoeft te betalen.
Lees uitlegVergelijken
Wie kiest u voor uw letselschadezaak?
Letselschade advocaat of letselschadebureau?
De feitelijke verschillen op een rij: bevoegdheden, tuchtrecht, financiering en gedragsregels. Inhoud en niveau, niet kantoren onderling.
Bekijk de vergelijkingNo-cure-no-pay of buitengerechtelijke kosten?
Twee financieringsmodellen voor letselschade-rechtsbijstand. De praktische en juridische verschillen, plus wat de gedragsregels zeggen.
Bekijk de vergelijking