Liberalisation of the Dutch notary profession; reviewing its scope and impact

This study provides an overview of the policy of liberalisation that transformed the Dutch notary profession into one of the least regulated in Europe. We discuss the changes brought with the new Notary Act of 1999, the political debates and lobbying preceding the introduction of the Act, and its impact on the profession. We go into the likely effects on key indicators, including entry, notary fees and the (perceived) quality of service. We place the Dutch experiences in an international context by comparing the Dutch notary profession to the organisation and regulation of the profession in other countries, including the US, Quebec, Germany and Belgium.