Renée Huijsmans-Zwijnenburg

Renée Huijsmans-Zwijnenburg

Partner & Attorney at law

Employment & Employee Participation

Renée Huijsmans-Zwijnenburg is, as a client once described, straightforward and to the point. This makes her a great fit for De Clercq. In her daily practice, Renée assists executives, legal counsels, and HR with various employment law issues, including individual and collective dismissals, reorganisations, employment conditions, and incapacity for work. Within employment law, she has specialised in cases involving integrity or undesirable behaviour. Social safety is high on her agenda.

"Integrity and addressing undesirable behaviour are fundamental to a safe workplace where everyone feels respected and valued. In my work, I not only look at the legal frameworks but also at the impact on company culture and the practical applicability of measures. Together with entrepreneurs and HR professionals, I seek solutions that truly work and contribute to a culture of trust. And if necessary, I am ready with concrete legal steps to ensure that transgressive behaviour is addressed and integrity is safeguarded."

Education

Renée studied Law at Maastricht University, where she chose Civil Law as her major. In the years that followed, Renée specialised in employment law. She successfully completed the Grotius specialisation course in Employment Law at Radboud University Nijmegen in 2015.

Career

Since 2009, Renée has worked as a lawyer and legal advisor. In 2015, she joined the De Clercq team with considerable practical experience. Within employment law, Renée has specialised in various subfields, such as reorganisations, individual and collective dismissals, and social safety. Additionally, Renée is a supervisor (HR portfolio) at the Stichting Openbaar Primair Onderwijs Oegstgeest and contributes as a board member of the Stichting Vrienden van het Zaans Medisch Centrum to a healthy Zaanstreek.

Daily practice

Within the Labour, Participation & Mediation section, Renée mainly focuses on individual and collective dismissal law. She can also provide excellent advice on matters related to employment contracts, employment conditions, incapacity for work, underperformance, and the employment law aspects of reorganisations. Her passion lies in issues related to social safety. Renée is eager to share her knowledge through publications, training sessions, or workshops. She is regularly invited as a speaker at conferences.

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The latest developments

Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation

Reorganising Despite Negative Works Council Advice: How Far Does Management Discretion Extend?

24 July 2026

A management board decides to implement a reorganisation, despite the works council (OR) having issued a negative opinion. The management board nevertheless intends to proceed with the decision. How far does its discretion to organise the company extend? A recent decision by the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (OK) shows that this discretion is broad, provided that the management board follows the employee participation process carefully and provides a sound justification for its decision.

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Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation

The Act Implementing the Revised EU Directive on European Works Councils: What Will Change for the European Works Councils of Multinational Companies?

13 July 2026

Multinational companies with a European Works Council (EWC) are facing significant changes. On 26 November 2025, Directive (EU) 2025/2450—the revised European Works Council Directive—was adopted. EU Member States must transpose the Directive into their national legislation by 1 January 2028. In the Netherlands, this will be achieved through the Act Implementing the Revised EU Directive on European Works Councils, which amends the Dutch European Works Councils Act (Wet op de Europese ondernemingsraden (WEOR)) and introduces a limited amendment to the Economic Offences Act (Wet op de economische delicten (WED)). Below, we outline the key changes introduced by the proposed legislation.

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Employment, Employee Participation & Mediation

The More Security for Flexible Workers Act Has Been Adopted: What Will Change for Employers?

9 July 2026

On 7 July 2026, the Dutch Senate approved the More Security for Flexible Workers Act (Wet meer zekerheid flexwerkers). The new legislation is intended to provide employees with flexible employment contracts with greater certainty regarding their work, income, and working hours. The Act addresses four key areas: on-call contracts, fixed-term employment contracts, temporary agency work phases, and the employment conditions of temporary agency workers.

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