handelspraktijk

Handelspraktijk is a Dutch term that refers to the practices and methods used in commerce in the everyday activities of traders. It covers how products and services are marketed, presented, and sold, as well as terms of sale, delivery, payment, warranties, and after-sales service. In practice, handelspraktijk describes the customary or market-standard way in which commercial transactions are conducted between sellers, buyers, and intermediaries such as retailers and distributors.

In European and Dutch law, certain handelspraktijken are regulated to protect consumers and safeguard fair competition. Unfair or deceptive practices, such as misleading advertising, bait advertising, hidden charges, misrepresentations about a product’s origin or quality, or coercive sales tactics, are prohibited or subject to sanctions. Regulatory authorities, notably the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), issue guidance and enforce rules against unfair handelspraktijken. National consumer-protection and competition legislation also governs how traders interact with customers.

The concept is often discussed in the context of unfair commercial practices. It distinguishes legitimate, transparent, and non-discriminatory conduct from practices that may mislead, exploit, or unduly pressure customers or restrict competition. In business-to-business relationships, the focus is on fair dealing and clear terms, while in consumer interactions, protections are broader and more stringent.

Overall, handelspraktijk is a broad notion in Dutch commercial law used to describe standard commercial conduct and to identify and regulate practices that are unfair or deceptive.