In the Netherlands, the Copyright Act 1912 and the Neighbouring Rights Act 1993 protect literary, scientific or artistic works. Because the European Directive 2006/116/EC on the term of protection of copyright and related rights was replaced by the European Directive 2011/77/EU in 2011, both Dutch acts were amended in 2013. In line with this directive, copyright accrues to the creator of a work until 70 years after the creator’s death while neighbouring rights are in place for 70 years from the moment a work is introduced. Previously, the Copyright Act, the Neighbouring Rights Act and the Database Act 1999 (which is based on the European Database Directive 96/9/EG) were amended in 2004 to implement the European Directive 2001/29/EG on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. Since 2014, The Netherlands also acts in accordance with the EU directive on certain permitted uses of orphan works. In 2015, the Copyright Contract Act was implemented, providing cultural producers with a stronger negotiating position against those using their work.
In 2021, the Netherlands implemented the EU Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market (DSM Directive), which led to amendments to the Copyright Act, the Neighbouring Rights Act and the Database Act. In 2024, amendments were made to the Copyright Act, the Neighbouring Rights Act and the Copyright Contract Law Act with the aim of strengthening the position of the creator and the performer in agreements concerning copyright and neighbouring rights. (Wet versterking auteurscontractenrecht Copyright Contract Law Strengthening Act – in Dutch)
Copy rights and neighbouring rights are collected and distributed by Collective Rights Management Organizations like Norma (rights for performing artists on tv), Sena (neighbouring rights of performers and producers), Buma/Stemra (copyright composers, lyricists and publicists) and Pictoright Fonds (rights visual creators)
Since 1996, when an actual public lending right was first incorporated in the Dutch Copyright Act (Auteurswet) and the Dutch Neighbouring Rights Act (Wet op de naburige rechten), this has been the responsibility of Stichting Leenrecht (Dutch Public Lending Right Office). Schools that have a library and collaborate with a public library were exempt from this rule. This exemption will be abolished. The compensation obligation will be borne by the ministry. This is intended to prevent education from experiencing administrative and financial burdens. To do so the Copy Right Act will be changed. The amendment of the law coincides with the amendment of the Public Library Act, which is scheduled for July 2026.
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