The Netherlands

Together with diverse partners, HiiL has worked on several justice initiatives in the Netherlands. This includes improving legal procedures for divorce and family conflicts, publishing documents on the broader topic of the rule of law in the Netherlands, and spearheading projects concerned with the Dutch the criminal justice system.

One of our closest partners in recent years is the Municipality of The Hague. The international city of peace and justice has much to offer. From a global perspective, HiiL published a ‘Future of ICC report’ in 2017, using a scenario-planning method to discuss relevant trends related to international criminal court proceedings.

While renowned internationally, The Hague, however should not overlook its local needs. With that in mind, the municipality and HiiL examined the conflicts affecting the daily lives of residents in The Hague. This online Justice Needs and Satisfaction study (e-JNS) revealed neighbour conflicts as the most common. Building on this data and our cooperation, with the city, HiiL organised an innovation lab to explore solutions for the large number of neighbour problems. The lab produced a detailed implementation plan for the city of The Hague.

Another area in the Netherlands in which HiiL has been active is the criminal justice system. Through our research and projects, we envision a criminal justice system that is connected more with the human-element, both in terms of responsiveness and design of (alternative) interventions. This is a big challenge, one that sometimes requires a different kind of conversation and new forms of cross-organisational and even cross-sectoral collaboration. The most recent work on the topic of criminal justice consisted of a set of stakeholder dialogues.

What is next?

HiiL continues to work with its partners on people-centred justice programming in the future.

One ambition is a broadscale R&D programme that aims to facilitate the development of accessible, effective resolution options for (legal) problems. These new products in the justice sector would enable solving 80% of the justice problems that people experience in a timely and fair manner by 2030.

Key highlights

Versterkt conflictoplossend vermogen

The justice sector in the Netherlands lacks well-organised and sufficiently funded research and development. As a result, existing institutional justice services are overburdened. However, there is a better way to creating fair, effective and responsive pathways to conflict resolution. Together with a consortium of partners, we are investing in research and evidence-based practice to reform and strengthen conflict resolution capabilities in the Netherlands.

Learn more

Changing Justice Gears: Strafrecht met Perspectief

The goal of the project is to contribute to a criminal justice system in the Netherlands that is more meaningful and socially relevant. To this end, stakeholder dialogues have been organised with a total of about 30 persons who are stakeholders in establishing and operationalizing an effective criminal justice system. The project is part of the overarching program 'Changing Justice Gears'.

Visit the project website