Three procedures, three meanings
| Procedure | What it involves | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | Assets are liquidated by a bankruptcy trustee | Stop supplying; submit your claim |
| Suspension of payments | Temporary relief from payment obligations to allow reorganisation | Supply only against advance payment |
| Statutory debt restructuring (WSNP) | Procedure for natural persons | Much of the claim is often written off |
Short answer: a bankruptcy notice means stopping supplies and submitting your claim to the bankruptcy trustee; suspension of payments means remaining highly vigilant, but it is not yet the end.
Where are the notices published?
In the Central Insolvency Register maintained by De Rechtspraak. Notices concerning legal entities are public; we treat notices concerning natural persons confidentially and do not display them on the website.
How do you read a notice?
Look at the date of the ruling, the court with jurisdiction, the name of the bankruptcy trustee or administrator, and any subsequent notices such as a report or closure due to insufficient assets. The latter generally means there is nothing to distribute to unsecured creditors.
What should you do as a creditor?
- Stop supplies immediately after publication
- Submit your claim to the bankruptcy trustee, with invoices and proof of delivery
- Invoke retention of title if you have agreed it — and act quickly
- Check set-off rights: do you still owe anything to the bankrupt party?
- Write off the debt and adjust the VAT through your return once it is established that the debt is irrecoverable
Prevention: monitoring rather than searching
Searching after the event is too late. Enable monitoring for your active debtors so that notices reach your accounts payable team on the same day. In practice, there are often warning signs months earlier: longer delays in payment, part payments and changing contacts.
Frequently asked questions
Can bankruptcy proceedings be brought to an end? Yes, for example through a composition with creditors or if the bankruptcy order is overturned on appeal. Follow subsequent notices.
Will I get any of my money back? Unsecured creditors often receive anything from nothing to a few per cent. All the more reason to screen customers beforehand.
From explanation to a company file
- Check a company's creditworthiness
Combine registration details, annual accounts, payment history and insolvency information before doing business.
- Credit report: example and request
View a clearly fictional file, its sources and limitations, and request credit information.
Sources and scope
Examples and policy choices in this article are illustrative, not a current quotation, fixed standard or financial or legal advice. The editorial revision date relates to the summary, structure and source references; it is not a reference date for the underlying data.
| Primary source | What is it used for? |
|---|---|
| De Rechtspraak — Central Insolvency Register | Official insolvency notices and available public reports; check the relevant entity and the date of the court ruling. |
| CBS (Statistics Netherlands) — bankruptcies, key figures | National bankruptcy statistics with reporting periods, definitions and explanatory notes. |
| KVK (Dutch Chamber of Commerce) — checking business partners | Company identification and checks on business partners. |
Source links support the topic mentioned, but do not automatically substantiate all percentages, time frames or examples in this article. Check current terms and rules with the responsible authority.
Request credit information with sources and reference dates
