The Iron Rhine (IJzeren Rijn) Arbitration (Belgium-Netherlands)

With an Introduction by Colin Warbrick, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Birmingham, UK and a Foreword by Tjaco T. van den Hout, Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration


The Iron Rhine Arbitration (or "IJzeren Rijn" as it is known in Dutch) (2005) decided a dispute between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Kingdom of The Netherlands concerning the reactivation of the Iron Rhine railway linking the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, to the Rhine Basin in Germany across certain parts of Dutch territory. The Arbitral Tribunal was called upon to interpret nineteenth century treaties, which granted certain rights to Belgium on the territory of The Netherlands, and to consider the entitlement of The Netherlands to insist on conditions specified under Dutch law, particularly with respect to environmental protection, for reactivation of the railway.


This unique bi-lingual edition comprises the official English versionof the Award rendered in the Iron Rhine Arbitration, and a French translation. In a perceptive introduction, Colin Warbrick, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Birmingham, has considered the Award in the context of its contribution to international and European Community law issues. As Professor Warbrick remarks, the significance of this case will extend far beyond the interests of the two States involved.