ABSTRACT
The movement to regulate limited companies in the Netherlands began in the early 1870’s, when the first draft law was proposed. But it was rejected by Parliament. A government commission appointed in 1879 took 11 years to render a report. The draft law recommended by the commission in 1890 was the first to propose that companies be required to publish their financial statements. Curiously, the commission’s draft law recommended more extensive balancesheet disclosures, on both the asset and equity sides, than were prescribed in the legislation that was finally approved 39 years later. But the draft law languished in a climate of inattention.
