Artikel 17: Right to a fair trial; access to a court
- Everyone shall have the right, in the determination of his rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, to a fair trial within a reasonable time before an independent and impartial court.
- No one can be prevented against his will from being heard by the courts to which he is entitled to apply under the law.
Explanation
Please note: Only the Dutch-language version of the Constitution has legal effect.
A person suspected of a possible criminal offence has the right to a decision by an independent and impartial judge within a reasonable time. Anyone may also bring a dispute with another person or the authorities before such a judge where the law so provides. No one may prevent them from doing so. Access to an independent and impartial judge is one of the pillars of the rule of law.
People may, of course, voluntarily agree to resolve a dispute in another way.