The main Court system, which deals with cases in the fields of civil, criminal and administrative law, has four levels: the "Kantongerecht" (civil and criminal, minor and simpler cases); "Arrondissementsrechtbank", first instance court in civil, criminal and administrative law cases; Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court only deals with criminal, civil and tax cases. For other administrative law cases two special highest courts (the Judicial Department of the Council of State and the "Central Court of Appeal") deal with appeals against the decisions of the Arrondissementsrechtbanken.

The Public Prosecutor's Department has an office attached to every court. The department is headed by the College of Attorneys-General, which acts under the responsibility of the Minister of Justice.

SSR, the Training and Study Centre for the Judiciary is responsible for all kinds of training for the judiciary in the Netherlands. This covers the initial education of RAIO's (abbreviation of Rechterlijk Ambtenaar in Opleiding, meaning judicial servant in training). Moreover, SSR provides training for those who are selected to be a judge after at least six years of experience as a lawyer. Finally, SSR is responsible for the permanent education of all members of the judiciary. SSR does not employ trainers itself. For every course, trainers are selected who are either very experienced judges or public prosecutors, university teachers, barristers/solicitors or other legal practitioners.

At present, about 60 people are working for SSR.

The budget for 2000 was approximately 2,000,000 guilders (900,000 euro).

Contact:

Studiecentrum Rechtspleging
Lieke van Zanten-Renders lid
College van Bestuur
Kuiperstraat 9-13
7201 HG Zutphen
Postbus 364
NL–7200 AJ Zutphen
Tel: +31-575-595-300
Fax: +31-575-515-609
E-mail : l.van.zanten-renders@ssr.nl
Website: http://www.ssr.nl

Nathalie Glime
Studiecentrum Rechtspleging
SSR International
Postbus 364
NL - 7200 AJ Zutphen
Tel: +31 575 595300
Fax: +31 575 595386
E-mail: glime@ssr.nl