Law of the Netherlands

constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Legal policies regarding drug use in the Netherlands

sex work in the Netherlands

overview of the laws of the Netherlands

overview of the capital punishment in the Netherlands

Dutch law

An '''''' ('legal interpreter' or 'lawspeaker') was, in the Middle Ages, an official legal advisor to the court of law in the Westerlauwers district (i.e. west of the River Lauwers) in western Friesland. Unlike a modern judge, the gave in most cases only an expert opinion on the law itself rather than on the facts of the case. As can be seen from the legal system known as Oudere Schoutenrecht, in the Old Frisian legal system with its formal approach to evidence, there was little room for appreciation of the facts of the case. Nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances, when there was a need fo

In the context of the law of the Netherlands, the term gedogen (; 'toleration', although not literally) refers to not enforcing certain laws. The Dutch government tolerates some offences. Some things like possessing small amounts of cannabis are formally forbidden by law, but the Dutch government abstains from bringing criminal charges against the offenders. Often these policies are brought about by a tension between treaty obligations and domestic politics. See policies on cannabis and euthanasia for more information.