openingshandeling

Openingshandeling is a Dutch term that refers to the initial formal action that begins a formal event, proceeding, or transaction. It denotes the first procedural act that marks the start of what follows and often establishes the framework for subsequent steps. The word combines opening and handeling (action or procedure) and is used in legal, administrative, corporate, and diplomatic contexts to describe the commencement of proceedings or activities.

Contexts and usage:

- Legal proceedings: An openingshandeling can be the initial act signaling the start of a court session or case, including the announcement of the agenda, confirmation of parties’ presence, and the outline of procedures or issues to be addressed.

- Meetings and assemblies: In corporate or public bodies, the term describes declaring the meeting open, verifying quorum, approving the agenda, and setting ground rules for conduct.

- Auctions and negotiations: It may denote the formal initiation of the process, including the declaration of bidding rules or negotiation procedures.

- Regulatory and administrative processes: The openingshandeling can involve filing, notices, or declarations that authorize later steps in a procedure.

Characteristics:

Openingshandlungen are typically formal, time-bound, and documented to legitimize the proceeding and provide a clear starting point for timelines or legal obligations. They serve to establish authority, ensure participants are informed, and set the procedural framework for what follows.

See also: opening statement, opening of proceedings, quorum, agenda, initiation.