Hardship clause

Definição

A hardship clause entitles the parties to renegotiate, adjust or terminate a contract when unforeseen circumstances make performance excessively onerous without making it impossible (which would be force majeure). It puts the statutory doctrine of unforeseen circumstances in article 6:258 BW into contractual form; that doctrine allows a court to modify or dissolve a contract where reasonableness and fairness require it. Such clauses are common in long-term supply, energy and construction contracts.

Exemplo

When raw-material prices triple unexpectedly, a hardship clause obliges the parties to renegotiate the agreed price in good faith.

Porque é um risco para a empresa

Without a hardship clause, a business locked into a long-term contract at a fixed price has limited legal options if circumstances change drastically: the statutory doctrine of article 6:258 BW is available only in exceptional cases and its outcome is uncertain. Conversely, a poorly drafted hardship clause can be exploited by a party that simply wants a better deal, turning a commercially reasonable agreement into a source of persistent renegotiation pressure. The risk of not having one and the risk of having one that is too broad are both real.

Como gerir

• Define the trigger precisely: specify the threshold for "excessive onerousness" (for example a percentage cost increase) rather than leaving it to open-ended judgment.
• Set a clear procedure for invoking the clause: notice period, documentation required, and a fixed negotiation window before either party may escalate.
• Include a fallback: if renegotiation fails within the agreed period, specify whether the contract continues unchanged, terminates, or goes to a third-party adjudicator.
• Align the hardship clause with any force majeure and price-revision provisions to avoid overlap or contradictions.

Referências jurídicas

• BW 6:258 Dutch Civil Code: unforeseen circumstances Direito neerlandês

Salvo indicação em contrário, as referências remetem para o direito neerlandês (Burgerlijk Wetboek, o Código Civil neerlandês); os instrumentos da UE, como o RGPD, aplicam-se em toda a UE. Esta é informação geral, não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. Outras jurisdições tratam estes conceitos de forma diferente. Verifique o texto em vigor e a sua situação com um advogado qualificado.