Handelwijze

Handelwijze is a Dutch noun that refers to the method, manner, or way in which something is done, especially within business, trade, or conduct. It combines handel (trade, business) with wijze (manner, way) and is commonly used to describe habitual practices or patterns of behavior.

In general usage, handelwijze denotes a customary or established approach to performing tasks, negotiating, or interacting with others. It can cover routines, procedures, and conduct that characterize an individual, organization, or market segment. In corporate or compliance contexts, it may be discussed as part of standard operating procedures, customer relations, or due diligence.

In legal and criminological contexts, handelwijze is often translated as modus operandi (MO). Here it refers to the characteristic pattern or routine by which a person or organization carries out acts, particularly illicit ones. Analyzing handelwijze helps investigators and analysts identify similarities across cases, assess risk, and anticipate future actions, while also linking offenses.

Examples of usage include describing a retailer’s transparent handling of complaints as part of its professional handelwijze, or noting a fraudster’s repeatable scam pattern as a criminal handelwijze. The term thus covers both legitimate business practices and patterned behavior in crime, depending on the context.

Translations into English include method of doing business, manner of operation, and modus operandi. Related Dutch terms include werkwijze (working method) and bedrijfsvoering (business operation).