CORE CONCEPTS IN THE DUTCH CIVIL CODE

Whereas the Dutch Civil Code has been amended many times since its entry into force in 1992, these concepts form a permanent core. However, these concepts today are not what they were in 1992. Although the core concepts themselves are a constant factor within the Civil Code, the meaning of these concepts is not fixed. The core concepts in the Dutch Civil Code are continuously in motion. This observation in itself is not of recent date. New, however, is the increased influence of transnationaldevelopments on the Dutch core concepts. Not only EU Directives and Regulations and the case law of the European Court of Justice have an impact on Dutch concepts, but these concepts may also be influenced by e.g. the European Convention on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, by international treaties and by instruments such as the various sets of Principles.