Neighbourhood mediation has been practiced more than fifteen years in the Netherlands. In 2010 there was neighbourhood mediation in 160 municipalities. More than 7000 cases were handled. Volunteer mediators try to break through communication blockades and teach their neighbours to make agreements. They are successful in two thirds of the cases. This means that about 20.000 directly involved family members are participating in successful cases. The authors discuss some conditions, results and the central principles of Dutch neighbourhood mediation: communication on an equal basis, impartiality, responsibility to solve conflicts, autonomous action and the enhancement of security and quality of life.

Since 2003, Dutch juveniles on remand who go to school or have work can be held in ‘night detention’: they attend their school or work during the day and spend the nights and weekends in a young offender institution. The authors examine how this form of youth detention relates to basic principles in juvenile criminal law and penitentiary law. They argue that based on international standards stating that juveniles should be detained with as few restraints as possible, night detention should be made available if circumstances allow it not only for juveniles on remand, but for juveniles subject to any form of detention.

In het Wilnis-arrest heeft de Hoge Raad geoordeeld dat bij de beoordeling of een dijk gebrekkig is, dienen mee te wegen de toenmalige kennis over faalmechanismen van dijken en de toenmalige richtlijnen voor belastingsituaties. De auteurs gaan in op de normatieve gebrekkigheidsbeoordeling en het aspect van de kenbaarheid van het gevaar.