A relatiebeding is a specialised form of restrictive covenant that bars a departing employee from contacting the employer's existing clients, suppliers, or colleagues for a defined period after the contract ends. Unlike a full non-compete clause, it does not restrict where the employee may work, only with whom they may do business.
Dutch courts treat the relatiebeding as a restriction of professional freedom and apply the same statutory framework as the concurrentiebeding under Article 7:653 of the Civil Code. The clause must be agreed in writing with an adult employee, and in fixed-term contracts it requires a written explanation of the employer's compelling business interest.
Judges regularly narrow overly broad clauses by shortening the duration, limiting the protected list to clients with whom the employee had direct contact, or excluding colleagues altogether. The reform package aimed at restrictive covenants in 2026 is expected to impose stricter proportionality tests and written documentation requirements for relatiebedingen alongside non-compete clauses.