The Hof van Holland, Zeeland en West-Friesland was the High Court of the provinces of Holland, West Friesland and Zeeland, instituted as a separate entity of the government of the Counties of Holland and Zeeland in 1428, under the Burgundian and Habsburg Netherlands, and continued with little change under the Dutch Republic, Batavian Republic, and the Kingdom of Holland, until its dissolution in 1811 by the First French Empire. It should not be confused with the Hoge Raad van Holland en Zeeland which was the supreme court, founded in 1582 by the States-General of the Netherlands and intended for the entire Dutch Republic. The Hof was in practice the main Appellate court in Holland and Zeeland, and in number of cases-handled the most important in the entire Dutch Republic and its Precedents played an important role in the development of Roman-Dutch law, which is still influential in Southern Africa.
The Lairessezaal at the Binnenhof, which was the council chamber of the Hof van Holland. The paintings by Gerard de Lairesse display an interesting legal iconography.
Rolzaal at the Binnenhof, where the Hof van Holland held its audiences.
Hoge Raad van Holland en Zeeland
The Hoge Raad van Holland, Zeeland en West-Friesland was the supreme court of the provinces of Holland and Zeeland in the Dutch Republic in the period 1582–1795. This court is considered a direct predecessor of the current Hoge Raad der Nederlanden. It played an important role in the formation of Roman-Dutch law, which still influences law in Southern Africa, through its jurisprudence.
Cornelius van Bynkershoek, President of the Hoge Raad van Holland en Zeeland, 1724-1743