Libel concerns those expressions in which one party attempts to ruin another’s reputation: an attempt to sully another person’s good name. Without this being required from the standpoint of a defence, one can be considered to be publicly libelled if one is publicly accused of committing crimes such as theft or fraud. The facts of which one is accused need not be crimes per se. When such accusations are made in writing (including accusations made on Internet), this is considered defamation.

Slander in the Netherlands

slander A false statement made in public about a person damaging his good name and reputation.
» Meer over slander Slander involves making public accusations about another person in public, while the person making the accusation should have known that those accusations were not true. This is the main difference between slander and libel. If the accusation is true, it can never be slander but can be considered libel. The mere fact that an accusation is true does not mean sharing these accusations are lawful.

Wrongful act

Libel and slander are concepts derived from the Dutch criminal code. These crimes are subject to penalties and even jail sentences, although people rarely go to jail in the Netherlands for libel or slander. A person guilty of libel or slander is also committing an wrongful act under Dutch civil law. The injured party can claim damages and/or a rectification in a newspaper.