Anyone involved in a dispute will want it resolved as quickly as possible. A normal and workable relationship is a much more appealing prospect than prolonged proceedings in court. Moreover, the decision handed down by a court of law is not necessarily the right solution to a dispute. This is why people in dispute are increasingly resorting to an alternative form of dispute resolution: mediation.

Mediation is a process for resolving disagreements with the help of an impartial third party: the mediator.
Almost any dispute can be resolved in a way that is acceptable to both parties. But because they are so entangled in conflict, they often fail to see that. A mediator can help them move forward. A mediator does not take sides, but helps people come up with a solution of their own.

The two key principles of mediation are confidentiality and voluntary participation. No one can be forced to take part in a mediation. The participants have to promise to observe confidentiality. At the start of the process, the parties and the mediator sign a mediation contract: a commitment to try and resolve the dispute through mediation. This is when the informal and flexible mediation process kicks off. The parties take an active stance. The mediator encourages them to communicate. Central to the process are the parties' interests rather than the formal positions taken by them. The mediator helps them find a solution.

Mediation inspires more creative solutions than do legal proceedings. Also, the mediator does not force an outcome on the parties. They negotiate their own agreement, creating a win-win situation. The outcome is recorded in a contract, which marks the end of the mediation process. Jolanda van Koeveringe-Dekker is one of Zeeland Province's pioneer mediators and a member of the Netherlands Mediation Institute (NMI). Nienke Slump is also a qualified NMI mediator. We can therefore help you out with any request for mediation.