Dispute with government

Disagreements with authorities are of all time and place

You, a non-Dutch citizen or non-Dutch company, have a complaint or want to lodge an objection or an appeal against a government’s decision, for example, the national government or a ministry, the provincial government or the municipality, a social security body like the UWV, the tax department, or the police. You are unable to resolve the matter on your own. Conflicting opinions remain and standpoints harden. You took the matter to court or you are considering to do so. You must be aware that a judge will always give a verdict, but whether or not you will be put in the right, remains to be seen. There is a better way!

I mediate in your dispute. This means that I guide and counsel in your talks so that the parties can reach an agreement. I have good knowledge of the ways and means of the Dutch authorities, but I will not contribute as regards content. I will take care that you come into contact with the proper governing body (or bodies) and that the resolution for the dispute is checked for feasibility. I am an independent and impartial third party, as such I have no relationship with any of the parties involved in the dispute, nor do I have any interest in a particular outcome of the mediation. As a district & appeal-mediator, I comply with the stringent quality criteria.

The Parties and the dispute

Parties are: 1. the authority that made the decision and, 2. the one who started a procedure against that decision and 3. any other ones involved in the procedure or in the dispute (for instance, a licensee). In principle, you can choose for mediation in any type of dispute for which you can start a legal procedure under administrative law, with the exception of cases concerning immigration.

Room for negotiation

It must be stipulated that room for negotiation is required. Without this, it makes no sense to start mediation at all. Authorities have to comply with governing rules and laws and therefore do not have unlimited room to move, regardless whether it concerns disputes on benefits, licenses, subsidies, taxes, legal positions of civil servants or other disputes with government authorities.

Postponing Legal procedure

A pending Legal procedure will be suspended from the moment you choose to resolve the dispute via mediation. If you or I indicate, or if the other party indicates, that mediation is to be ceased, or in case you cannot resolve the dispute together, the case will be once again taken to court. The judge will then continue the Legal procedure. If, on the other hand, an agreement is achieved, the Legal procedure stops.

For more information about mediation in court, you can contact the appropriate mediation officer.