privaatrechtelijke

Privaatrechtelijk is a Dutch adjective that designates matters, actions, or rules connected to private law. It refers to the legal framework governing relationships between private individuals and private legal entities, rather than the government or public authorities. The private law system regulates civil relationships and social ordering among private subjects. Core areas include contract law (verbintenissenrecht), tort law (onrechtmatige daad), property law (goederenrecht), family and personal law (personen- en familierecht), and company or corporate law (vennootschapsrecht). In the Netherlands, the Burgerlijk Wetboek (Dutch Civil Code) provides the substantive rules, complemented by other statutes, regulations, and case law.

In practice, privaatrechtelijke disputes are typically brought before civil courts. Remedies focus on enforcing contractual duties, awarding damages for breaches, or ordering performance, termination, or restoration of a legal status. The term is also used to describe the nature of relationships (“privaatrechtelijke verhouding”) or liabilities (“privaatrechtelijke aansprakelijkheid”) arising from private-law interactions.

To distinguish from publiekrechtelijk: public law governs the relationship between individuals and the state, or the structure and powers of public authorities, including constitutional, administrative, tax, and criminal law. Private law is primarily horizontal—between private parties—and aims to balance private autonomy with protection against unfair conduct, while public law is vertical—between private individuals and the state—and emphasizes governance and public interest.