In November 2001 a Dutch television news programme revealed the existence of secret financial accounts at a major construction company. This piece of investigative journalism would prove the beginning of a long-winding legal affair, now commonly known as ‘The Construction Case’. 

This case has been designated the most important cartel case in Dutch history. In the course of proceedings, it was established that the anti-competitive behaviour of the undertakings amounted to very serious infringements of the Competition Act. This highly profiled affair comprised two major rounds of activity, starting in 2002 and 2004.

Over the years, the NMa has carried out in-depth investigations into a range of sectors and devised Special Fining Guidelines suited to handling multiple-party cases. In general, the nature and scale of the Construction Case forced the NMa to tread new ground. Its innovative approach to investigating and sanctioning large-scale cartel offences proved practical in its outlook, though fines were to have a robust impact all the same.

Cartel practices, 1992 - 2001