Is a non-compete in a fixed-term employment contract valid?

Only if the employer sets out in writing the compelling business interests that justify it; without that motivation the clause is generally void.

Can a court reduce the scope of an overly broad non-compete?

Yes. Dutch courts regularly reduce geographic scope, duration, or activity restrictions to what is proportionate. Relying on a court to save an overreaching clause is risky; drafting proportionately from the start is safer.

Does a non-compete apply after the employer terminates the employee?

Dutch courts can reduce or set aside a non-compete if the employer terminated the employment without the employee being at fault. The rationale is that the employer cannot impose restrictions while simultaneously triggering the unemployment.

Are non-competes in commercial (B2B) contracts treated differently from employment non-competes?

Yes. B2B non-competes are assessed under general contract law rather than the specific employment provisions of BW 7:653. They are generally more freely enforceable, but still subject to reasonableness and competition law limits.

What is the difference between a non-compete and a non-solicitation clause?

A non-compete restricts working for or starting a competing business. A non-solicitation clause restricts approaching specific customers or employees of the former employer, without necessarily prohibiting all competitive activity. Non-solicitation is typically easier to enforce.

Non-compete

A clause restricting a party from competing with the other for a defined time and area.

Définition

A non-compete clause restrains a person or business from engaging in competing activity for a set period and within a defined geographic or market scope. To be enforceable it must protect a legitimate interest and be reasonable in scope and duration. In Dutch employment, the concurrentiebeding is tightly regulated under article 7:653: it must be in writing with an adult employee and, in fixed-term contracts, requires a written motivation of compelling business interests.

Exemple

A departing sales manager is barred from joining a direct competitor within the Netherlands for twelve months under a written non-compete.

Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

A non-compete that is too broad in scope, geography, or duration may be void or reduced by a court, leaving the business with no protection at all. Conversely, an overly aggressive non-compete that effectively prevents someone from earning a living is increasingly scrutinised by Dutch courts and may backfire. In B2B contexts, non-competes in commercial contracts require careful drafting to survive the proportionality test.

Comment le gérer

Match the scope to the legitimate interest: if you are protecting customer relationships in the Netherlands, you do not need a worldwide ban on all competing activity.
In employment contracts, document the compelling business interests in the clause itself, especially for fixed-term contracts.
Pair the non-compete with a non-solicitation clause if protecting client relationships is the core concern, as this is often less vulnerable to challenge.
Consider offering compensation for the restriction period, particularly in commercial contracts, to increase enforceability.

Références juridiques

BW 7:653 Dutch Civil Code: non-compete in employment Droit néerlandais

Sauf mention contraire, les références renvoient au droit néerlandais (Burgerlijk Wetboek, le Code civil néerlandais) ; les instruments de l'UE tels que le RGPD s'appliquent dans toute l'UE. Il s'agit d'informations générales, pas de conseils juridiques. D'autres juridictions traitent ces concepts différemment. Vérifiez le texte en vigueur et votre situation avec un avocat qualifié.

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