"Much praise for your expertise, decisiveness and sense of perspective. You instil so much confidence in me. The final results confirm as much.
You're the best!"
Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators is specialised in family and inheritance law, with branches in The Hague and Amsterdam. This allows us to better service our (international) clients. Founded in 1988 as a general law practice, the firm grew into one of the Netherlands' largest experts on family law. Some of our lawyers also have extensive experience in disciplinary law and real estate, making it possible for our firm to properly deal with related issues as well.
A divorce or other family issue will often turn everything on its head. What to do and where to begin, if you want to avoid making the wrong decisions from the start? We are there to guide the client through this difficult process. To take away, as much as possible, the burdens of a difficult time. To offer structure. Because of its complexity, a family issue often requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Consider the children, the own home, the business, the dividing up of the assets and any additional real estate (abroad). Many aspects are involved. That is why we cooperate closely with civil-law notaries, child experts, tax lawyers, accountants and pension advisers. With the client, we chart the landscape and take stock of wishes and interests. We ensure that the client gets the full picture and is able to take control of the situation once more.
Professional, Personal & Engaged
The personal connection between the lawyer and the client is essential. Especially when it concerns personal matters such as where children are involved, or a divorce or an inheritance. We would like to invite you to come by our offices to meet us for coffee, with no further obligations. Please call for an appointment. We are also available outside of office hours and, if necessary, can make an appointment within 24 hours.
"I am impressed by how you managed to keep these parties talking..."
Emma Kostense is a partner and co-founder of Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators. In 1988 she started her own firm in The Hague together with Lineke Krans, working under the name Krans & Van Hilten, a firm with a more general practice. At the time, Emma was active as Emma van Hilten. Prior to starting her own firm, she learned the ins and outs of the legal profession by working at major law firms for over 10 years. In 2012 she was the co-founder of family law firm Van Hilten de Vries van Ruitenbeek Advocaten & Mediators, known per 1 January 2017 as Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators.
Until 2012, Emma was also very much active in the field of employment law and personal injury, but specialisation is all but required in this day and age. Emma chose family law, as this is a field that allows her to leverage her relevant life experience. Services made to measure, as well as personal contact with clients, are important to Emma.
In addition to being a lawyer, Emma has also been a mediator since 1999. She believes in the principle that clients should stay in charge as much as possible, even during often difficult times in their lives. She is an active lawyer specialising in collaborative divorce and co-founder of the team Collaborative Divorce Randstad (Overlegscheiding Randstad). Emma enjoys working with other professionals. She prefers a multi-disciplinary approach. As a mediator, she is often brought in on cases involving employment law and personal injury. After all, Emma has more than shown her worth as a lawyer in these fields, giving her deeper insight into the problems while also facilitating the parties in finding a solution in her role as mediator.
Emma's clients are generally medical specialists, members of the judiciary, independent professionals, entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals. Emma has management experience in many areas. For the past 14 years she has been deputy judge at the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam, the last 6 of which she was also deputy judge at the family division of the Court of Appeal Arnhem-Leeuwarden. Emma is married and has 3 children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Other additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Opera, classical music, cabaret, theatre plays, reading, tennis, jogging
Willem de Vries specialises in inheritance law, disciplinary law and real estate. His extensive practical knowledge, his capacity of empathy and his years of experience make him a much sought-after sparring partner for both clients and co-workers. As a member of the Supervisory Board and as dean, Willem was active for many years in managing the Bar Association of the Hague. In that capacity, he obtained much expertise in advising and mediating in business and other conflicts. The combination of practical and management experience, as well as his years spent as deputy judge in Delft (from 1994 onwards) render him a solid lawyer who can be deployed in many situations, a "trusted advisor". Willem is known to be truly at home in the courtroom. Pleading comes natural to him, but his motto remains "sue if necessary, settle if possible".
He started in 1978 at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn in The Hague, was lawyer-partner at that firm from 1984 to 2006 and deputy State's Attorney from 1996 to 2006. In 2006 he joined Krans & van Hilten Advocaten, the current Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators, as lawyer-partner. Amongst other things, Willem is a member of the Association of Lease Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Huurrecht Advocaten, VHA) and the Association of Agrarian Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Agrarisch Recht Advocaten, VARA). Willem is married and has four children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Other additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Tennis, golf, reading, cabaret, travelling
Emma Kostense is a partner and co-founder of Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators. In 1988 she started her own firm in The Hague together with Lineke Krans, working under the name Krans & Van Hilten, a firm with a more general practice. At the time, Emma was active as Emma van Hilten. Prior to starting her own firm, she learned the ins and outs of the legal profession by working at major law firms for over 10 years. In 2012 she was the co-founder of family law firm Van Hilten de Vries van Ruitenbeek Advocaten & Mediators, known per 1 January 2017 as Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators.
Until 2012, Emma was also very much active in the field of employment law and personal injury, but specialisation is all but required in this day and age. Emma chose family law, as this is a field that allows her to leverage her relevant life experience. Services made to measure, as well as personal contact with clients, are important to Emma.
In addition to being a lawyer, Emma has also been a mediator since 1999. She believes in the principle that clients should stay in charge as much as possible, even during often difficult times in their lives. She is an active lawyer specialising in collaborative divorce and co-founder of the team Collaborative Divorce Randstad (Overlegscheiding Randstad). Emma enjoys working with other professionals. She prefers a multi-disciplinary approach. As a mediator, she is often brought in on cases involving employment law and personal injury. After all, Emma has more than shown her worth as a lawyer in these fields, giving her deeper insight into the problems while also facilitating the parties in finding a solution in her role as mediator.
Emma's clients are generally medical specialists, members of the judiciary, independent professionals, entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals. Emma has management experience in many areas. For the past 14 years she has been deputy judge at the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam, the last 6 of which she was also deputy judge at the family division of the Court of Appeal Arnhem-Leeuwarden. Emma is married and has 3 children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Other additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Opera, classical music, cabaret, theatre plays, reading, tennis, jogging
Willem de Vries specialises in inheritance law, disciplinary law and real estate. His extensive practical knowledge, his capacity of empathy and his years of experience make him a much sought-after sparring partner for both clients and co-workers. As a member of the Supervisory Board and as dean, Willem was active for many years in managing the Bar Association of the Hague. In that capacity, he obtained much expertise in advising and mediating in business and other conflicts. The combination of practical and management experience, as well as his years spent as deputy judge in Delft (from 1994 onwards) render him a solid lawyer who can be deployed in many situations, a "trusted advisor". Willem is known to be truly at home in the courtroom. Pleading comes natural to him, but his motto remains "sue if necessary, settle if possible".
He started in 1978 at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn in The Hague, was lawyer-partner at that firm from 1984 to 2006 and deputy State's Attorney from 1996 to 2006. In 2006 he joined Krans & van Hilten Advocaten, the current Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators, as lawyer-partner. Amongst other things, Willem is a member of the Association of Lease Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Huurrecht Advocaten, VHA) and the Association of Agrarian Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Agrarisch Recht Advocaten, VARA). Willem is married and has four children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Other additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Tennis, golf, reading, cabaret, travelling
Having had her own firm in Amsterdam for many years, Margreet Ruijgrok joined Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators per 1 January 2017. She is both a lawyer-partner and managing partner at the firm's Amsterdam branch.
Margreet has nearly thirty years' experience as a lawyer and extensive experience as a mediator. She specialises in inheritance law and family law and has been a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) since 1996. She completed the specialisation in inheritance law at the Law Practice Academy (Academie voor de Rechtspraktijk). Margreet is a skilled and driven professional, who will do her utmost best for her clients.
In one of her additional positions, Margreet is regional coordinator for the association for the vFAS for the Amsterdam region. She has also been a member of the Assembly of Delegates of the Amsterdam Bar Association since 2011. Margreet is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Secondary activities:
Hobbies:
Playing the clarinet, Italian, cooking, running, fashion design and creation
Having had her own firm in Amsterdam for many years, Margreet Ruijgrok joined Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators per 1 January 2017. She is both a lawyer-partner and managing partner at the firm's Amsterdam branch.
Margreet has nearly thirty years' experience as a lawyer and extensive experience as a mediator. She specialises in inheritance law and family law and has been a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) since 1996. She completed the specialisation in inheritance law at the Law Practice Academy (Academie voor de Rechtspraktijk). Margreet is a skilled and driven professional, who will do her utmost best for her clients.
In one of her additional positions, Margreet is regional coordinator for the association for the vFAS for the Amsterdam region. She has also been a member of the Assembly of Delegates of the Amsterdam Bar Association since 2011. Margreet is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Secondary activities:
Hobbies:
Playing the clarinet, Italian, cooking, running, fashion design and creation
Specialising in family law, Raya Oranje-Jorna primarily handles complex divorce cases and disputes on maintenance. As a lawyer or collaborative divorce lawyer for either party, or as mediator for both parties. Raya is particularly drawn to cases involving entrepreneurs, independent professionals or medical specialists. In doing her work, she is constantly aware of the fact that relationships and connections continue to exist. That is why she is passionate about finding sustainable solutions rather than fighting time- and money-consuming court battles. But if legal proceedings are where parts of the solution are to be found, she will pursue these, fervently.
Raya has been a lawyer-partner at Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators since 2015. Prior to that, since 1992, she worked as a family law lawyer at firms including Nauta Dutilh in Rotterdam and Salomons van der Valk advocaten in The Hague. She also spent some time as a lecturer at the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Raya is a registered divorce mediator and is often appointed as mediator by the courts. In addition, she is also, among other things, a member of Collaborative Divorce Holland (Overlegscheiden Holland), the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN), the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vereniging van Collaborative Professionals, VvCP), the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and the Council of Discipline The Hague (Raad van Discipline Den Haag). Her additional positions include membership in the committee for the code of conduct within the vFAS. Raya is married and has three children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Additional activities:
Hobbies:
Pilates, skiing, jogging, ballet, opera, music, films, cooking, reading and travelling
Emma Kostense is a partner and co-founder of Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators. In 1988 she started her own firm in The Hague together with Lineke Krans, working under the name Krans & Van Hilten, a firm with a more general practice. At the time, Emma was active as Emma van Hilten. Prior to starting her own firm, she learned the ins and outs of the legal profession by working at major law firms for over 10 years. In 2012 she was the co-founder of family law firm Van Hilten de Vries van Ruitenbeek Advocaten & Mediators, known per 1 January 2017 as Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators.
Until 2012, Emma was also very much active in the field of employment law and personal injury, but specialisation is all but required in this day and age. Emma chose family law, as this is a field that allows her to leverage her relevant life experience. Services made to measure, as well as personal contact with clients, are important to Emma.
In addition to being a lawyer, Emma has also been a mediator since 1999. She believes in the principle that clients should stay in charge as much as possible, even during often difficult times in their lives. She is an active lawyer specialising in collaborative divorce and co-founder of the team Collaborative Divorce Randstad (Overlegscheiding Randstad). Emma enjoys working with other professionals. She prefers a multi-disciplinary approach. As a mediator, she is often brought in on cases involving employment law and personal injury. After all, Emma has more than shown her worth as a lawyer in these fields, giving her deeper insight into the problems while also facilitating the parties in finding a solution in her role as mediator.
Emma's clients are generally medical specialists, members of the judiciary, independent professionals, entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals. Emma has management experience in many areas. For the past 14 years she has been deputy judge at the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam, the last 6 of which she was also deputy judge at the family division of the Court of Appeal Arnhem-Leeuwarden. Emma is married and has 3 children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Other additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Opera, classical music, cabaret, theatre plays, reading, tennis, jogging
Willem de Vries specialises in inheritance law, disciplinary law and real estate. His extensive practical knowledge, his capacity of empathy and his years of experience make him a much sought-after sparring partner for both clients and co-workers. As a member of the Supervisory Board and as dean, Willem was active for many years in managing the Bar Association of the Hague. In that capacity, he obtained much expertise in advising and mediating in business and other conflicts. The combination of practical and management experience, as well as his years spent as deputy judge in Delft (from 1994 onwards) render him a solid lawyer who can be deployed in many situations, a "trusted advisor". Willem is known to be truly at home in the courtroom. Pleading comes natural to him, but his motto remains "sue if necessary, settle if possible".
He started in 1978 at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn in The Hague, was lawyer-partner at that firm from 1984 to 2006 and deputy State's Attorney from 1996 to 2006. In 2006 he joined Krans & van Hilten Advocaten, the current Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators, as lawyer-partner. Amongst other things, Willem is a member of the Association of Lease Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Huurrecht Advocaten, VHA) and the Association of Agrarian Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Agrarisch Recht Advocaten, VARA). Willem is married and has four children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Other additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Tennis, golf, reading, cabaret, travelling
Having had her own firm in Amsterdam for many years, Margreet Ruijgrok joined Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators per 1 January 2017. She is both a lawyer-partner and managing partner at the firm's Amsterdam branch.
Margreet has nearly thirty years' experience as a lawyer and extensive experience as a mediator. She specialises in inheritance law and family law and has been a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) since 1996. She completed the specialisation in inheritance law at the Law Practice Academy (Academie voor de Rechtspraktijk). Margreet is a skilled and driven professional, who will do her utmost best for her clients.
In one of her additional positions, Margreet is regional coordinator for the association for the vFAS for the Amsterdam region. She has also been a member of the Assembly of Delegates of the Amsterdam Bar Association since 2011. Margreet is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Secondary activities:
Hobbies:
Playing the clarinet, Italian, cooking, running, fashion design and creation
Specialising in family law, Raya Oranje-Jorna primarily handles complex divorce cases and disputes on maintenance. As a lawyer or collaborative divorce lawyer for either party, or as mediator for both parties. Raya is particularly drawn to cases involving entrepreneurs, independent professionals or medical specialists. In doing her work, she is constantly aware of the fact that relationships and connections continue to exist. That is why she is passionate about finding sustainable solutions rather than fighting time- and money-consuming court battles. But if legal proceedings are where parts of the solution are to be found, she will pursue these, fervently.
Raya has been a lawyer-partner at Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators since 2015. Prior to that, since 1992, she worked as a family law lawyer at firms including Nauta Dutilh in Rotterdam and Salomons van der Valk advocaten in The Hague. She also spent some time as a lecturer at the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Raya is a registered divorce mediator and is often appointed as mediator by the courts. In addition, she is also, among other things, a member of Collaborative Divorce Holland (Overlegscheiden Holland), the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN), the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vereniging van Collaborative Professionals, VvCP), the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and the Council of Discipline The Hague (Raad van Discipline Den Haag). Her additional positions include membership in the committee for the code of conduct within the vFAS. Raya is married and has three children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Additional activities:
Hobbies:
Pilates, skiing, jogging, ballet, opera, music, films, cooking, reading and travelling
Partly because of her fluent command of French and English, but also because she is drawn to the complexity of the international dimension, Edith van Ruitenbeek-de Bekker has specialised in international and financially complex divorces. Edith van Ruitenbeek is also divorce mediator, collaborative divorce lawyer and certified inheritance mediator. Edith has a background in mathematics, but she has been a lawyer for over 20 years and is specialised in family law. She is capable of empowering clients as well as taking charge. This is partly because of her analytic strength and the fact that she is a true team player. This is also the role she plays in a network of civil-law notaries, tax lawyers, accountants and certainly when working with (child) psychologists. She regularly confers with the judiciary and other organisations regarding developments in the field of family law. She has also written various articles and given various lectures and courses in this field.
After a non-legal start to her career, she has been active as a lawyer in The Hague since 1997. In 2001 she joined Krans & Van Hilten as a lawyer, later becoming lawyer-partner. In 2012 she was a co-founder of Van Hilten de Vries van Ruitenbeek Advocaten & Mediators, the predecessor of the current Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators, one of the four largest firms specialising in family law in the Netherlands.
Among other things, Edith is a member of the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN), the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vereniging van Collaborative Professionals, VvCP), the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the Dutch Association of Lawyers (Nederlandse Juristen Vereniging, NJV) and the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and is linked to the Foundation for InheritanceInheritance Mediation (Stichting Nalatenschapsmediation). Her side activities include membership of the Supervisory Board of Wereldkinderen (since 2015) and member of the committee Family and Child Law for the Supervisory Board of The Hague (since 2007). Edith is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Travelling, French cooking, tennis, film, art and theatre
Publications by Edith van Ruitenbeek-de Bekker
Cynthia de Nijs has been a lawyer since 2000 and a mediator since 2006. In 2009 she graduated the VFAS specialisation cum laude. As a lawyer, she specialises in family law and has an affinity for financial issues and is particularly experienced in supporting entrepreneurs. Her approach can be characterised as a combination of empathy and pragmatism: sympathetic but realistic, aimed at achieving practical and sustainable solutions. And never losing sight of the best interests of her clients and their children. She often acts as mediator, in which she joins the parties in coming up with creative solutions. She started her career at (what is now) Holla Advocaten in Den Bosch and is an asset to our team since 2004.
Cynthia is a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN). She has been publishing in Kluwer's journal Rechtspraak Familierecht since 2008. She also gives workshops, including concerning the contents of prenuptial agreements. Cynthia lives with her partner and has three children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Reading, cabaret, theatre plays, films
Specialising in family law, Raya Oranje-Jorna primarily handles complex divorce cases and disputes on maintenance. As a lawyer or collaborative divorce lawyer for either party, or as mediator for both parties. Raya is particularly drawn to cases involving entrepreneurs, independent professionals or medical specialists. In doing her work, she is constantly aware of the fact that relationships and connections continue to exist. That is why she is passionate about finding sustainable solutions rather than fighting time- and money-consuming court battles. But if legal proceedings are where parts of the solution are to be found, she will pursue these, fervently.
Raya has been a lawyer-partner at Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators since 2015. Prior to that, since 1992, she worked as a family law lawyer at firms including Nauta Dutilh in Rotterdam and Salomons van der Valk advocaten in The Hague. She also spent some time as a lecturer at the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Raya is a registered divorce mediator and is often appointed as mediator by the courts. In addition, she is also, among other things, a member of Collaborative Divorce Holland (Overlegscheiden Holland), the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN), the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vereniging van Collaborative Professionals, VvCP), the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and the Council of Discipline The Hague (Raad van Discipline Den Haag). Her additional positions include membership in the committee for the code of conduct within the vFAS. Raya is married and has three children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Additional activities:
Hobbies:
Pilates, skiing, jogging, ballet, opera, music, films, cooking, reading and travelling
Partly because of her fluent command of French and English, but also because she is drawn to the complexity of the international dimension, Edith van Ruitenbeek-de Bekker has specialised in international and financially complex divorces. Edith van Ruitenbeek is also divorce mediator, collaborative divorce lawyer and certified inheritance mediator. Edith has a background in mathematics, but she has been a lawyer for over 20 years and is specialised in family law. She is capable of empowering clients as well as taking charge. This is partly because of her analytic strength and the fact that she is a true team player. This is also the role she plays in a network of civil-law notaries, tax lawyers, accountants and certainly when working with (child) psychologists. She regularly confers with the judiciary and other organisations regarding developments in the field of family law. She has also written various articles and given various lectures and courses in this field.
After a non-legal start to her career, she has been active as a lawyer in The Hague since 1997. In 2001 she joined Krans & Van Hilten as a lawyer, later becoming lawyer-partner. In 2012 she was a co-founder of Van Hilten de Vries van Ruitenbeek Advocaten & Mediators, the predecessor of the current Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators, one of the four largest firms specialising in family law in the Netherlands.
Among other things, Edith is a member of the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN), the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vereniging van Collaborative Professionals, VvCP), the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the Dutch Association of Lawyers (Nederlandse Juristen Vereniging, NJV) and the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and is linked to the Foundation for InheritanceInheritance Mediation (Stichting Nalatenschapsmediation). Her side activities include membership of the Supervisory Board of Wereldkinderen (since 2015) and member of the committee Family and Child Law for the Supervisory Board of The Hague (since 2007). Edith is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Travelling, French cooking, tennis, film, art and theatre
Publications by Edith van Ruitenbeek-de Bekker
Cynthia de Nijs has been a lawyer since 2000 and a mediator since 2006. In 2009 she graduated the VFAS specialisation cum laude. As a lawyer, she specialises in family law and has an affinity for financial issues and is particularly experienced in supporting entrepreneurs. Her approach can be characterised as a combination of empathy and pragmatism: sympathetic but realistic, aimed at achieving practical and sustainable solutions. And never losing sight of the best interests of her clients and their children. She often acts as mediator, in which she joins the parties in coming up with creative solutions. She started her career at (what is now) Holla Advocaten in Den Bosch and is an asset to our team since 2004.
Cynthia is a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN). She has been publishing in Kluwer's journal Rechtspraak Familierecht since 2008. She also gives workshops, including concerning the contents of prenuptial agreements. Cynthia lives with her partner and has three children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Reading, cabaret, theatre plays, films
Partly because of her fluent command of French and English, but also because she is drawn to the complexity of the international dimension, Edith van Ruitenbeek-de Bekker has specialised in international and financially complex divorces. Edith van Ruitenbeek is also divorce mediator, collaborative divorce lawyer and certified inheritance mediator. Edith has a background in mathematics, but she has been a lawyer for over 20 years and is specialised in family law. She is capable of empowering clients as well as taking charge. This is partly because of her analytic strength and the fact that she is a true team player. This is also the role she plays in a network of civil-law notaries, tax lawyers, accountants and certainly when working with (child) psychologists. She regularly confers with the judiciary and other organisations regarding developments in the field of family law. She has also written various articles and given various lectures and courses in this field.
After a non-legal start to her career, she has been active as a lawyer in The Hague since 1997. In 2001 she joined Krans & Van Hilten as a lawyer, later becoming lawyer-partner. In 2012 she was a co-founder of Van Hilten de Vries van Ruitenbeek Advocaten & Mediators, the predecessor of the current Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators, one of the four largest firms specialising in family law in the Netherlands.
Among other things, Edith is a member of the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN), the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vereniging van Collaborative Professionals, VvCP), the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the Dutch Association of Lawyers (Nederlandse Juristen Vereniging, NJV) and the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and is linked to the Foundation for InheritanceInheritance Mediation (Stichting Nalatenschapsmediation). Her side activities include membership of the Supervisory Board of Wereldkinderen (since 2015) and member of the committee Family and Child Law for the Supervisory Board of The Hague (since 2007). Edith is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Travelling, French cooking, tennis, film, art and theatre
Publications by Edith van Ruitenbeek-de Bekker
Cynthia de Nijs has been a lawyer since 2000 and a mediator since 2006. In 2009 she graduated the VFAS specialisation cum laude. As a lawyer, she specialises in family law and has an affinity for financial issues and is particularly experienced in supporting entrepreneurs. Her approach can be characterised as a combination of empathy and pragmatism: sympathetic but realistic, aimed at achieving practical and sustainable solutions. And never losing sight of the best interests of her clients and their children. She often acts as mediator, in which she joins the parties in coming up with creative solutions. She started her career at (what is now) Holla Advocaten in Den Bosch and is an asset to our team since 2004.
Cynthia is a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN). She has been publishing in Kluwer's journal Rechtspraak Familierecht since 2008. She also gives workshops, including concerning the contents of prenuptial agreements. Cynthia lives with her partner and has three children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Reading, cabaret, theatre plays, films
Since graduating from Leiden University in 2004, Machteld Verboom has been active as a lawyer specialising in family law. She focuses on matters of visitation and parental authority, as well as disputes concerning the division of the community of goods or the wrapping up of the prenuptial agreement. She also has extensive experience with other topics of family law, such as guardianship. Part of her practice consists of (divorce) mediations, in which she supports the future former spouses in coming to agreements. When doing so, she also pays attention to the best interests and opinions of the children.
In many cases, she manages to resolve the dispute by mutual consent and to have the agreements put to paper. This avoids lengthy and cumbersome proceedings in court. Maintaining good contact with the opposing party's lawyer, is essential. She is an active member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), where she graduated cum laude from the legal specialisation. Should it not be possible to come to an arrangement with the other party, she will take the case to court. Should this happen, she can easily hold her own.
Her approach consists of engagement, quality and being easy to reach. She wants to support her clients during a difficult time in their lives and work with them in achieving a good and sustainable outcome.
Machteld is a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), de Jonge Balie Den Haag and the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN). She is also a member of the Hague delegation of the Assembly of Delegates (since 2013), family law lecturer at the Jonge Balie Den Haag (since 2012) and regional coordinator Amsterdam for the vFAS. Machteld is married and has two daughters.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Sailing, skiing, reading
Since 2011, when he took his oath, Coen van den End has worked at our firm. Prior to that, he studied at Amsterdam University (UvA), was an intern at Loyens & Loeff in Amsterdam and London and engaged on project basis at the Houthoff Buruma in Amsterdam. Though he knows his way around company law very well, since 2015 he has focused on family law, including inheritance law. His knowledge of and experience with company law continue to serve him well, especially in matters of family law involving entrepreneurs en businesses. Coen works at both the Amsterdam and The Hague offices of Van Hilten.
Coen is a (prospective) member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and previously was a member of the executive board of De Jonge Balie association with the Supreme Court. Coen is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Hobbies:
Sailing, golf, diving, reading, theater
Since graduating from Leiden University in 2004, Machteld Verboom has been active as a lawyer specialising in family law. She focuses on matters of visitation and parental authority, as well as disputes concerning the division of the community of goods or the wrapping up of the prenuptial agreement. She also has extensive experience with other topics of family law, such as guardianship. Part of her practice consists of (divorce) mediations, in which she supports the future former spouses in coming to agreements. When doing so, she also pays attention to the best interests and opinions of the children.
In many cases, she manages to resolve the dispute by mutual consent and to have the agreements put to paper. This avoids lengthy and cumbersome proceedings in court. Maintaining good contact with the opposing party's lawyer, is essential. She is an active member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), where she graduated cum laude from the legal specialisation. Should it not be possible to come to an arrangement with the other party, she will take the case to court. Should this happen, she can easily hold her own.
Her approach consists of engagement, quality and being easy to reach. She wants to support her clients during a difficult time in their lives and work with them in achieving a good and sustainable outcome.
Machteld is a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), de Jonge Balie Den Haag and the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN). She is also a member of the Hague delegation of the Assembly of Delegates (since 2013), family law lecturer at the Jonge Balie Den Haag (since 2012) and regional coordinator Amsterdam for the vFAS. Machteld is married and has two daughters.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Sailing, skiing, reading
Since 2011, when he took his oath, Coen van den End has worked at our firm. Prior to that, he studied at Amsterdam University (UvA), was an intern at Loyens & Loeff in Amsterdam and London and engaged on project basis at the Houthoff Buruma in Amsterdam. Though he knows his way around company law very well, since 2015 he has focused on family law, including inheritance law. His knowledge of and experience with company law continue to serve him well, especially in matters of family law involving entrepreneurs en businesses. Coen works at both the Amsterdam and The Hague offices of Van Hilten.
Coen is a (prospective) member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and previously was a member of the executive board of De Jonge Balie association with the Supreme Court. Coen is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Hobbies:
Sailing, golf, diving, reading, theater
Sabrina de Jong gained experience as legal assistant at several law firms since 2011. Prior to that, she already worked with various law firms while still studying. Upon receiving her master's degree in law from the VU in Amsterdam, she took her oath as a lawyer in 2015. Since then, Sabrina has worked as a lawyer at Advocatenkantoor Ruijgrok in Amsterdam and - on account of the merger between the firms - is associated with Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators in Amsterdam since 2017. This energetic lawyer prefers to closely cooperate with a client; she is engaged, structured and decisive. Sabrina lives with her partner in Amsterdam.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Bikram yoga, running, travel, music, cinema
Since graduating from Leiden University in 2004, Machteld Verboom has been active as a lawyer specialising in family law. She focuses on matters of visitation and parental authority, as well as disputes concerning the division of the community of goods or the wrapping up of the prenuptial agreement. She also has extensive experience with other topics of family law, such as guardianship. Part of her practice consists of (divorce) mediations, in which she supports the future former spouses in coming to agreements. When doing so, she also pays attention to the best interests and opinions of the children.
In many cases, she manages to resolve the dispute by mutual consent and to have the agreements put to paper. This avoids lengthy and cumbersome proceedings in court. Maintaining good contact with the opposing party's lawyer, is essential. She is an active member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), where she graduated cum laude from the legal specialisation. Should it not be possible to come to an arrangement with the other party, she will take the case to court. Should this happen, she can easily hold her own.
Her approach consists of engagement, quality and being easy to reach. She wants to support her clients during a difficult time in their lives and work with them in achieving a good and sustainable outcome.
Machteld is a member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS), de Jonge Balie Den Haag and the Federation of Mediators in the Netherlands (Mediatorsfederatie Nederland, MfN). She is also a member of the Hague delegation of the Assembly of Delegates (since 2013), family law lecturer at the Jonge Balie Den Haag (since 2012) and regional coordinator Amsterdam for the vFAS. Machteld is married and has two daughters.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Sailing, skiing, reading
Since 2011, when he took his oath, Coen van den End has worked at our firm. Prior to that, he studied at Amsterdam University (UvA), was an intern at Loyens & Loeff in Amsterdam and London and engaged on project basis at the Houthoff Buruma in Amsterdam. Though he knows his way around company law very well, since 2015 he has focused on family law, including inheritance law. His knowledge of and experience with company law continue to serve him well, especially in matters of family law involving entrepreneurs en businesses. Coen works at both the Amsterdam and The Hague offices of Van Hilten.
Coen is a (prospective) member of the association for Family Law Lawyers and Divorce Mediators (vereniging Familierecht Advocaten Scheidingsmediators, vFAS) and previously was a member of the executive board of De Jonge Balie association with the Supreme Court. Coen is married and has two children.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Additional activities:
Hobbies:
Sailing, golf, diving, reading, theater
Sabrina de Jong gained experience as legal assistant at several law firms since 2011. Prior to that, she already worked with various law firms while still studying. Upon receiving her master's degree in law from the VU in Amsterdam, she took her oath as a lawyer in 2015. Since then, Sabrina has worked as a lawyer at Advocatenkantoor Ruijgrok in Amsterdam and - on account of the merger between the firms - is associated with Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators in Amsterdam since 2017. This energetic lawyer prefers to closely cooperate with a client; she is engaged, structured and decisive. Sabrina lives with her partner in Amsterdam.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Bikram yoga, running, travel, music, cinema
Sabrina de Jong gained experience as legal assistant at several law firms since 2011. Prior to that, she already worked with various law firms while still studying. Upon receiving her master's degree in law from the VU in Amsterdam, she took her oath as a lawyer in 2015. Since then, Sabrina has worked as a lawyer at Advocatenkantoor Ruijgrok in Amsterdam and - on account of the merger between the firms - is associated with Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators in Amsterdam since 2017. This energetic lawyer prefers to closely cooperate with a client; she is engaged, structured and decisive. Sabrina lives with her partner in Amsterdam.
Profession:
Education:
Career:
Memberships:
Hobbies:
Bikram yoga, running, travel, music, cinema
"I want to thank you for your efforts, your help and your advice in my case. I am often very happy, and grateful to you, for having a broad visitation agreement and a great, positive relationship with my daughter."
