This contribution
investigates whether the Dutch Arbitration Act in force as of 1 January 2015
(DAA 2015) meets the legislator’s desire to limit the number of successful
actions for set-aside of arbitral awards and the duration of set-aside
proceedings. It analyses decided cases in setting-aside proceedings on the
basis of both empirical and doctrinal research. The research finds that the
number of granted set-aside applications under the DAA 2015 has dropped by
about two-thirds (from 23% to 6.8% of cases) when compared to the DAA of 1986.
Against this background, it is submitted that three key areas remain in which
the Dutch legislator and the Dutch courts would – in view of the legislator’s
objectives with the DAA 2015 – do well to provide further clarity on the state
of Dutch arbitration law.