Legal aid too expensive for poor and middle class, groups warn
Five Dutch legal organizations are urging political leaders to protect access to legal aid, warning that rising costs and proposed cuts threaten to exclude low- and middle-income residents from essential legal support, Trouw reports.
In a joint letter to Dutch political parties, the Legal Aid Desk (Juridisch Loket), the Royal Dutch Association of Civil-law Notaries (Koninklijke Notariële Beroepsorganisatie, KNB), the Dutch Association of Insurers (Verbond van Verzekeraars), the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland), and the Disputes Committee (Geschillencommissie) warn of growing barriers to justice. They argue that people with limited means should have access not only to subsidized attorneys, but also to notaries and mediators when needed.
“Without timely and accessible help, people remain unprotected, resulting in uncertainty and stress,” they wrote, referencing the Dutch childcare benefits scandal: “The childcare benefits affair painfully showed what goes wrong when the rule of law falls short.”
The letter follows a controversial proposal from the Ministry of Finance, which suggests ending subsidized legal aid in cases already covered by private legal insurance. The plan appears in the government’s ombuigingslijst—a list of potential budget cuts—and could save 70 million euros annually.
Critics warn the plan would shift costs to citizens. If low-income individuals lose access to subsidized lawyers, they may be forced to rely on private legal insurance—driving up premiums and leaving many without coverage. The ombuigingslijst itself cautions: “This measure may reduce access to justice for those without legal insurance.”
Although State Secretary for Legal Protection Teun Struycken promised more funding for legal aid earlier this year, the five organizations remain concerned. They urge political leaders to invest in “accessible and personalized information, advice and support, appropriate forms of conflict resolution such as mediation, stable financing for crucial institutions, and accessible insured legal assistance.”
The notaries' association, KNB, is also calling for subsidized notarial services for those who cannot afford them, such as people drafting prenuptial agreements or trying to avoid inheriting debt. Struycken has so far declined to reimburse notarial work. “Access to justice is essential for a well-functioning rule of law,” the organizations wrote.
