1. Introduction - What is the Netherlands Commercial Court?

2. Key characteristics of the Netherlands Commercial Court
2.1. English language
2.1.1. Language of the legal proceedings
2.1.2. Decisions in English, with the exception of the Dutch Supreme Court
2.1.3. Exceptions to the use of English
2.2. Jurisdiction: international civil and commercial matters and annulment of arbitral awards
2.2.1. Introduction
2.2.2. International civil or commercial matters
2.2.3. Annulment of arbitral awards
2.2.4. Model-form choice of forum provision
2.3. NCC, NCCA, Supreme Court and CSP
2.3.1. First instance: NCC
2.3.2. Court in Summary Proceedings (CSP)
2.3.3. Appeal: NCCA
2.3.4. Supreme Court appeal
2.3.5. Preliminary questions to the Supreme Court
2.3.6. Prorogation of jurisdiction
2.4. Composition of the Netherlands Commercial Court: specialised three-judge panel
2.5. Amendable rules of procedure
2.6. Duration of legal proceedings
2.7. Costs
2.7.1. Fixed court fees
2.7.2. Limited adverse costs awards
2.7.3. Agreement on costs between the parties
2.7.4. Contingency fees

3. Basic procedure of the Netherlands Commercial Court
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Basic procedure
3.2.1. Writ of summons / Document initiating proceedings
3.2.2. Statement of defence
3.2.3. Case management hearings and a dedicated judge for each case
3.2.4. Second round of submissions and oral arguments?
3.2.5. Preliminary procedural issues
3.2.6. Time limits
3.2.7. Transcripts and court reporters
3.2.8. Electronic communication via eNCC-portal

4. Evidence
4.1. Alignment with international arbitration and existing commercial courts?
4.2. Some Dutch law aspects on the taking of evidence
4.2.1. Introduction
4.2.2. Burden of proof
4.2.3. Document disclosure
4.2.4. Preliminary witness hearings
4.3. Legislative initiatives concerning evidence in Dutch civil proceedings

5. Appeal and Supreme Court appeal
5.1. Appeal
5.2. Supreme Court appeal

6. Interim relief proceedings

7. Confidentiality?
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Hearings
7.3. Judgment, submissions and other written documents
7.4. Confidentiality obligations
7.5. Refusal to disclose certain information pending legal proceedings
7.6. Confidentiality pursuant to EU-Directives on trade secrets and competition law

8. Recognition and enforcement of decisions

9. Third Parties versus voluntary jurisdiction of the NCC
9.1. Introduction
9.2. General: voluntary and involuntary joinder of third parties pursuant to DCCP
9.3. Third parties joining pending cases before Netherlands Commercial Court

10. Representation by non-Dutch qualified lawyers?
10.1. Representation by Dutch and visiting European lawyers
10.2. Conditions for visiting European lawyers

11. Other international commercial court initiatives
11.1. General
11.2. France
11.3. Germany
11.4. Belgium
11.5. Statistics: cases pending before international commercial courts
11.6. High level comparison table

12. Criticism
12.1. Benefit over international arbitration?
12.2. Only relevant in cases governed by Dutch law?
12.3. Should countries be competing to create the most attractive forum for litigation?
12.4. Creation of an ‘elite’ court within the Dutch court system?
12.5. Conclusion