Richard Neerhof

Richard Neerhof serves as Full Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Law and holds concurrent professorships at the Kooijmans Institute and in Public Contract Law. His academic career spans appointments at Utrecht, Maastricht, and Groningen universities prior to joining VU Amsterdam in 2008.

Neerhof's research centers on regulatory frameworks, particularly examining the intersection of public governance and private standard-setting. His expertise encompasses normalization, certification, and accreditation systems within administrative law, with specialized focus on construction law, environmental regulation, and government liability. Current work analyzes how private entities establish norms for public interests and the legal implications for governmental decision-making.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on regulatory effectiveness, particularly in EU construction product standards, environmental planning systems, and youth care certification. His scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with the legitimacy challenges of private regulatory bodies operating within public law frameworks.

Professional engagement includes significant consultancy for Gelderland Province (2023-2027) as Deputy Chair of the Legal Protection Committee and advisory roles for European harmonization legislation. Media appearances include Nieuwsuur interviews on building quality assurance legislation and commentary on certification mark policies.

Neerhof leads research within the "Public Contracts: Law & Governance" program, collaborating across administrative and private law departments. His work addresses critical questions about responsibility allocation between public and private actors in regulatory enforcement, with particular attention to risk management in construction safety and environmental compliance contexts.