regspraak

Regspraak is a Dutch term that refers to jurisprudence or case law—the body of judicial decisions that interpret and apply the law. It comprises judgments and accompanying legal reasoning from courts at various levels, including civil, criminal, and administrative matters. Regspraak serves to clarify how statutes, constitutional provisions, and international or European law are understood in concrete situations and to resolve ambiguities or gaps in the written law.

In practice, regspraak complements statutory law. While civil law traditions do not treat court decisions as formal binding precedents in the same way as common-law systems, rulings from higher courts—especially the Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) and appellate courts—carry substantial persuasive authority. The ratio decidendi of these decisions guides lower courts in similar cases and contributes to a coherent interpretation of legal standards over time. Regspraak thus shapes legal doctrine, influences the development of legal principles, and can prompt legislative or administrative changes when gaps or conflicts become apparent.

Access to regspraak is facilitated by official databases and publications, such as rechtspraak.nl in the Netherlands, where decisions are issued as arresten (judgments) and, in some instances, conclusies (conclusions or opinions). Legal professionals routinely consult regspraak to support arguments, assess likelihoods of outcomes, and anticipate how courts might interpret existing statutes.

Overall, regspraak plays a central role in the application and evolution of law within Dutch-speaking jurisdictions, balancing statutory text with the interpretive guidance provided by judicial decisions.