Debt collection · Netherlands

🇳🇱 Your customer in the Netherlands is not paying?

Goods delivered, invoice overdue, the buyer in the Netherlands silent. This page explains how a B2B claim is collected in the Netherlands, how long it takes, and which interest and costs can be charged to the debtor. Incasso Mentor sets up and runs this process on your behalf: we choose the right route, bring in the local specialist, follow every step and report to you in Turkish. You only take the decisions. Information as of September 2026.

Netherlands at a glance

The four figures that matter most to a Turkish exporter. Fees and rates change; before any legal step we confirm the current figures with our partner.

€25,000
Up to this amount the case runs without a lawyer, via a bailiff (subdistrict court). Above it a lawyer is mandatory.
10.15%
Statutory commercial interest (since 1 July 2025). 4% for consumers.
15% → 5%
Extrajudicial costs charged to the debtor: 15% on the first €2,500, decreasing in bands; minimum €40.
5 years
Limitation period for contractual claims; a written demand restarts it.
Process

How collection in Netherlands proceeds

Amicable phase (about 45 days)

Formal demand in Dutch, stating interest and the statutory collection costs. If no payment, a second demand announcing legal steps. You receive reports in Turkish.

Court order

A Dutch bailiff serves the summons. If the debtor does not respond, a default judgment usually follows within two weeks of the hearing. Realistic timeline: 2–3 months to an enforceable title.

Enforcement

Only a registered bailiff (KBvG) may enforce: bank accounts, wages, receivables from third parties, goods and real estate. Fees are set by law.

Insolvency

Bankruptcy can be requested once the debtor has stopped paying (in practice two creditors are needed). Unsecured creditors recover little; acting early matters.

Our role

We organise your collection in Netherlands

Collecting a debt in a foreign country on your own is exhausting: language, law, finding the right firm, negotiating fees, not missing deadlines. This is exactly where Incasso Mentor comes in. We review your file, obtain an independent credit report on the debtor and determine the most suitable route for Netherlands.

Then we set up the process: we select the registered agency or lawyer in Netherlands, hand over a complete and well-prepared file, fix the fee on your behalf in advance and follow every step. You work with one contact, in your own language. Every decision is yours; no step is taken without your approval.

What you do, what we do

You: send us the invoice, contract and delivery documents.

We: assess the file, obtain the credit report and report the route and cost to you in writing.

We: select and brief the local specialist in Netherlands, fix the fee and watch the deadlines.

We: report every development in Turkish and answer your questions.

You: take the decision at every stage. Legal steps only with your approval.

Three points that matter for a Turkish exporter

EU fast-track procedures are closed to Turkish companies

The European order for payment and small-claims procedure are only open to claimants established in the EU. A Turkish exporter uses the ordinary Dutch summons procedure, which requires a local bailiff or lawyer. Incasso Mentor coordinates this for you.

Documents you need

Contract or order confirmation, invoices, CMR/proof of delivery and the payment correspondence. If no due date was agreed, a written notice of default giving a reasonable extra period is mandatory.

What the judgment is worth in Turkey

A Dutch judgment is enforceable throughout the EU without extra formalities. For assets in Turkey a recognition procedure (tenfiz) is needed; this is rarely relevant because the debtor's assets are usually in the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions

How long does collection in the Netherlands take?

For an undisputed claim: about 45 days amicable, 2–3 months to a judgment, then enforcement. If the debtor defends, expect 6–12 months.

Who pays the costs?

The claimant pays the court fee (for companies €139 to €1,504 in 2026); the losing party pays a fixed contribution to the winner's costs. Statutory interest and collection costs are charged to the debtor.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not up to €25,000: the bailiff handles the whole route. Above that, or when the claim is disputed, yes.

Incasso Mentor is not a law firm. We coordinate the amicable phase; where a legal step is needed, an authorised lawyer, enforcement officer or registered agency in the Netherlands acts with your approval. This page is general information, not legal advice. Source legislation: Dutch Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Collection Costs Act (WIK), Bailiffs Act, Bankruptcy Act. Information as of September 2026.

Submit your Netherlands claim today

Share your invoice and the basic documents. We review the file and report the route in the Netherlands and the expected cost to you in writing, in Turkish; the rest we plan together. B2B, from €20,000 per debtor.

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