Proof and paperwork: what changed in Dutch evidence law for disputes
A shop-friendly gloss on the Wvmb ideas (judges nudge harder for facts, documents flow more freely, and your logs matter).
On 1 January 2025 the Netherlands updated its general evidence statute (the law lawyers shorthand as Wvmb). Panels such as DigiDispuut lean on the same kind of thinking: decisions rest on what you can show, not on vibes. Not legal advice.
Old sayings, modern meaning
“Whoever claims must show” still exists, but uncontested facts may be treated as settled until the other side properly disputes them. Translation for merchants: answer complaints with specifics, not silence.
Judges can dig a little deeper
Courts may play a slightly more active truth-finding role yet must stay inside the case parties actually brought. Do not expect a judge to rescue a folder with zero documents.
Swifter sharing of files
Demanding access to relevant documents is less of a “last resort only” move during litigation. If you are holding the contract PDFs, chat logs, or refund screenshots, plan on producing them when a fight escalates, unless a real privilege applies.
What to stockpile calmly
- Structured order confirmations and delivery scans.
- Return tracking IDs and refund batch references.
- Marketing consent metadata and template versions.
- Withdrawal acknowledgements once you automate them.
Un Order
What the plugin does
Un Order is a WooCommerce extension that adds the customer-facing withdrawal and stop flows the upcoming EU rules expect: surfaced in My Account and order emails, without editing core templates by hand.
- Withdrawal on orders injected into My Account order pages so shoppers can start a legal withdrawal from a clear button.
- Deadline awareness the function hides when the return window no longer applies.
- Partial returns customers can select individual line items where that is required.
- Email acknowledgement a branded confirmation is sent as soon as they submit.
- Stop for services a separate mode for digital services and subscriptions, same flow, with wording that fits services.