Are auto-renewal clauses always allowed?

Between businesses, generally yes. For consumer contracts the Wet Van Dam restricts them: after the first renewal the consumer must be able to cancel monthly with short notice.

Can a business accidentally agree to an auto-renewal it did not want?

Yes. If the party continues to perform or receive services after the expiry date without objecting, Dutch courts may find that a new contract has arisen by conduct on the same or similar terms.

How much advance notice is typically required to prevent auto-renewal?

It depends on the contract; common windows range from 30 to 90 days before the renewal date. Some contracts have a very narrow window (e.g. 30 days) buried in the boilerplate, making vigilance essential.

Can an auto-renewal clause change the price on renewal?

Only if the contract expressly provides for it (e.g. a price-indexation clause). A silent renewal without a price-change mechanism generally continues on the existing terms.

What is the Wet Van Dam and why does it matter?

The Wet Van Dam (2011) amended BW 6:236 to restrict auto-renewal in consumer contracts. After the first renewal, consumers must be able to cancel at any time with a maximum of one month's notice. It applies to subscriptions, memberships, and similar ongoing services.

Auto-renewal

A clause extending a contract automatically unless a party opts out in time.

Définition

An auto-renewal (or evergreen) clause automatically extends a contract for further periods unless a party gives notice within a set window. It ensures continuity but can trap parties who forget to cancel. Dutch consumer-protection rules (Wet Van Dam) heavily restrict silent renewal and long lock-ins for consumer contracts, requiring easy cancellation after the first renewal.

Exemple

A gym membership renews for another year automatically; under the Wet Van Dam, after the first term it must instead become monthly cancellable.

Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

Auto-renewal clauses generate significant hidden cost for businesses that do not actively manage their contract portfolio. A SaaS subscription, office lease, or outsourcing contract that rolls over unnoticed can commit a company to another year of spend at rates that have since become uncompetitive. On the revenue side, suppliers rely on auto-renewal to retain customers who have disengaged.

Comment le gérer

Log every auto-renewal clause and its notice window at the time of signing, not when the window is about to close.
Set renewal review reminders at least 90 days before the notice deadline to allow time for evaluation and renegotiation.
For B2B contracts, negotiate a mutual right to prevent renewal with reasonable notice rather than a one-sided auto-renewal that only benefits the supplier.

Références juridiques

BW 6:236 sub j Dutch Civil Code: silent renewal of consumer contracts 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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