ABSTRACT
Business associations in the Netherlands have the legal status of nonprofi t organizations. There exists no special legislation for trade or employer associations (which does not mean that they cannot be targeted by such legislation as the Collective Agreements Act of 1927). Business associations are treated like every other association. They are based on the principle of freedom of association, as specifi ed in Article 8 of the constitution. This means that they are understood as legal entities representing members, promoting a good cause, with the obligation to comply with the rules of associations (as endorsed in Article 2 of the Dutch Civil Code). Therefore anybody can form a business interest association, provided that these basic legal requirements are met.
