Dominique de Haas focuses her practice on environmental law and land use and zoning law, in which she regularly advises clients on issues related to the Dutch Environment and Planning Act. Dominique also has extensive experience with procedures regarding environmental plans (formerly zoning plans) and permit processes. She can draw on extensive knowledge of environmental topics such as noise, soil, nature and nitrogen and she has specific experience in the healthcare sector.

Expert in Land Use and Zoning Law
Dominique is a dedicated attorney with strong analytical skills. She works diligently to understand the intricacies and nuances of her clients’ cases, where she puts substantive quality first. She does this with a passion for land use and zoning law. “Everything you see in the physical environment is subject to land use and zoning laws. Just thinking about the legal challenges gets me fired up. It’s what makes me so driven, an expert in my field, and I will stop at nothing to deliver the best possible outcomes for my clients.” 

Broad Legal Experience 
Dominique began her career at a law firm in Amsterdam, where she worked on administrative and land use and zoning matters. She also worked as a land use and zoning attorney at the Council of State. Dominique has published a number of times on land use and zoning issues and also served as a member of the Provincial Council of Groningen. 

Professional Activities & Memberships

• Deputy chairman of the Legal Protection Committee of the Province of Gelderland
• Member of the Administrative Law Association
• Member of the Environmental Law Association
• Member of the Construction Lawyers Association

Academic Background

• Dutch Law, LL.M. in Constitutional and Administrative Law, 2017, University of Groningen
• Law, BA, Honours College, 2014, University of Groningen

Cases

• Advised on and litigated matters involving a large-scale zoning plan procedure and complex environmental projects, thereby also advising healthcare institutions on zoning variances, environmental permits, and required exemptions under the Nature Conservation Act.
• Advised on and litigated a highly sensitive case concerning the establishment of forensic mental healthcare facilities in the Netherlands.
• Advised and litigated matters for one of the Netherlands’ largest food producers regarding the expansion of its factory, addressing issues such as noise, odor, particulate matter, provincial policies, and community engagement.
• Advised semi-public institutions on the application of pre-protection rules under the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet).
• Advised on development projects affected by procedural errors in the environmental permitting process, working closely with municipalities to address and remedy these shortcomings.
• Provided strategic legal advice to municipalities and private-sector clients in the wake of the landmark nitrogen ruling in December 2024. 

Bar register of legal practice areas
Dominique has registered the following principal (and secondary) legal practice areas in the Netherlands Bar’s register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister):

• Environmental and planning law

Based on this registration, she is required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in each registered principal legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar.