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A no-contact order from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service: complying with a behavioural direction and requesting changes
Received a no-contact order through a behavioural direction? Read what to check, how to address practical problems and what legal remedies are available.
Summary
Received a no-contact order through a behavioural direction? Read what to check, how to address practical problems and what legal remedies are available.
Key points
- Received a no-contact order from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service? Start with the document. Does it say behavioural direction and Article 509hh of the Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure? If so, it concerns a specific decision under criminal law that may apply even before a court has ruled.
- Check three things: whom must you not contact, which forms of contact are prohibited and from when does the direction apply? Also check whether you must avoid certain places.
- Make problems involving children, belongings or work specific. Write down what needs to be arranged and what safe solution might be possible. Do not visit the person yourself or send a message through an acquaintance to circumvent the prohibition.
- An invitation from the other person does not automatically change the direction either. A lawyer can assess whether clarification, amendment or an appeal to the district court is appropriate.
Please note
This video explains this topic in general terms. This information does not replace advice about your case.
Sources for this video
Bronnen en onderbouwing
Hier vind je de bronnen bij deze pagina. Open de oorspronkelijke publicatie voor de volledige uitleg, voorwaarden en uitzonderingen.
- Openbaar Ministerie: Aanwijzing kader voor toepassing van voorwaarden, gedragsaanwijzingen en maatregelen, 2023A004Opent in een nieuw tabbladom.nlhttps://www.om.nl/onderwerpen/b/beleidsregels/aanwijzingen/executie/aanwijzing-kader-voor-toepassing-van-voorwaarden-gedragsaanwijzingen-en-maatregelen-2023a004
- Politie: Welke vormen van contactverbod zijn er?Opent in een nieuw tabbladpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/informatie/welke-vormen-van-contactverbod-zijn-er-en-wie-legt-het-verbod-op.html
- Staatsblad 2010, 325: invoering artikelen 509hh Sv en 184a SrOpent in een nieuw tabbladzoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlhttps://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2010-325.html
- Rechtbank Midden-Nederland, 11 februari 2026, ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2026:414Opent in een nieuw tabbladuitspraken.rechtspraak.nlhttps://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2026:414
Transcript
Criminal Law in the Netherlands.
Received a no-contact order from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service? Start with the document. Does it say behavioural direction and Article 509hh of the Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure? If so, it concerns a specific decision under criminal law that may apply even before a court has ruled.
Check three things: whom must you not contact, which forms of contact are prohibited and from when does the direction apply? Also check whether you must avoid certain places.
Make problems involving children, belongings or work specific. Write down what needs to be arranged and what safe solution might be possible. Do not visit the person yourself or send a message through an acquaintance to circumvent the prohibition.
An invitation from the other person does not automatically change the direction either. A lawyer can assess whether clarification, amendment or an appeal to the district court is appropriate.
Keep the direction, any extensions and relevant messages for that purpose. Filing a request does not mean you may already make contact. Finally, pay attention to the difference between the end date of this direction and other prohibitions that may apply.
Have this checked before resuming contact. If there is immediate danger, call 112. The criminal case and the no-contact order each require attention.
Read the full explanation on the Criminal Law in the Netherlands website.
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