For directors of a Dutch company it is important to be discharged by the company (or the authorised body within the legal person) from liability. Discharge is given in regards to the conducted (financial) policy and basically means as much as that the legal person approves what the board has done.

In a Dutch limited discharge is given by the shareholders at the AGM. Recent new Dutch corporate law has regulated discharge of liability in regard to the financial statements. If all shareholders are also directors of the company, the adoption of the financial statements implies discharge to the directors and supervisory directors as well. Discharge from liability in regards to other matters is still a specific item to be discussed at the AGM.