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Perpetual clause under Dutch law

Perpetual clause under Dutch law

A perpetual clause under Dutch law is an obligation in an agreement to impose particular obligations on a subsequent owner or legal successor. This means that agreements can also be made with parties who are not yet parties at the time the agreement is concluded. It usually concerns the obligation of legal successors to tolerate or refrain from doing something. Sometimes, however, it is the obligation to do something. Such provisions are particularly common in property transactions and company takeovers. Our contract lawyer in the Netherlands in contract law zooms in on this clause

Not automatically bound by a perpetual clause in the Netherlands

The legal successor is not automatically bound by the obligations of a regular perpetual clause under Dutch law. It is required that the re-selling party bound by the perpetual clause imposes this obligation on the new acquirer. A penalty clause is often included to effectively enforce that the re-selling party does so. If the obligations are not included for the legal successor, the original seller can only claim the re-selling party for breach of contract.

Explanation of a perpetual clause

Because perpetual clauses under Dutch law can remain in effect for years and impact many other parties, it is recommended to make these provisions as clear as possible. However, the clause should not be interpreted solely on the basis of the linguistic meaning of its wording. As with almost all contracts under Dutch law, all circumstances of the case, assessed according to what reasonableness and fairness require, are of decisive importance.

Qualitive obligation

In the case of transfer of real estate, the law has the possibility of automatically binding legal successors to a perpetual clause. In that case, there is a qualitative obligation within the meaning of Book 6, Article 252 of the Civil Code. For a qualitative obligation to be effective, it must be recorded by a notary in a notarial deed and also be registered in the public registers. However, the qualitative obligation can only be agreed for obligations to tolerate or refrain from doing something. Due to key differences with the perpetual clause, it is important not to confuse them.

Dutch lawyer specialized in contract law

Do you have any questions or a dispute regarding a perpetual clause under Dutch law or do you need specific legal advice regarding contract law in Holland? Our experienced Dutch specialist lawyers in Holland will be happy to help you.

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Remko Roosjen

Remko Roosjen

Remko Roosjen is a Dutch contract attorney in the Netherlands and creates close working relationships with clients, providing pragmatic solutions across on all legal matters in the Netherlands. Remko is a partner of our commercial law firm in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His specialist areas include Dutch contract law, including Dutch commercial contracting and legal disputes, including civil litigation under Dutch law, arbitration in the Netherlands and other forms of dispute resolution, such as mediation. Remko Roosjen is a sharp, creative Dutch attorney with extensive cross-border experience representing both foreign plaintiffs and defendants. Visit Remko's profile via the website or via his LinkedIn Profile.