Michel Klijn

Attorney-at-law | Partner
Michel Klijn

Expertises

Projects & Project Finance Construction & Development Procurement Real Estate Energy & Industry Transport & Logistics

Contact

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Michel’s work focuses on projects, construction law and procurement law. He assists a wide variety of clients with litigation, contracting, tendering and negotiations in the real estate, construction, infrastructure, logistics and energy sectors. Michel is actively involved in high-stakes international construction litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution.

He is highly experienced in facilitating the realisation of large-scale complex projects, including the setting up of claim management processes. Michel is an authority on numerous forms of contract, such as EPC, Turnkey, FIDIC, NEC4, concessions and alliances. Additionally, he is a civil engineer.

Before joining Houthoff, Michel worked at a large Dutch construction company for several years. He also teaches at the Dutch Institute of Construction Law and regularly publishes on procurement law and forms of collaboration in the construction industry. For his contribution to Real Estate: Construction, Michel is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers Europe and recognised as a ‘Leading Partner’ by Legal 500.

  • Advised Porthos Development C.V. on the transfer by TAQA to Porthos of a mining installation and related permits for the storage of CO2 in empty gas fields in the North Sea.
  • Advised Jaarbeurs on one of the Netherlands’ largest and most complex redevelopments, which includes both the area around its Utrecht convention campus and its own halls into a mixed-use district of homes and modern facilities.
  • Assisted Bysteel in drafting and negotiating the construction agreement with BN-TAV, (a joint venture between Ballast Nedam (Netherlands) and TAV Tepe Akfen Yatirim (Turkey), which was awarded the contract to build a new terminal (the "A-pier") at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
More recent work
  • LL.M. Private Law (with merit) (Utrecht University)
  • M.Sc. Civil Engineering (University of Twente)
  • Admitted to the Bar in the Netherlands in 2005

Expertises

Projects & Project Finance
Project financing forms the backbone of many large construction and infrastructure projects, in both the public and private sectors. These projects often require complex financing structures.
Construction & Development
Large-scale infrastructure projects, the redevelopment of existing real estate, an increasing focus on sustainability and changes in national and EU laws and regulations. Over the past 20 years, Houthoff’s extensive Construction & Development Team has developed unrivalled knowledge and experience, which means that our clients are always guaranteed the best possible support.
Procurement
Tendering is a careful process that begins with the preparation of the procurement and continues through to the signing of the contract. At every stage – whether it involves drafting documents, conducting procedures, handling complaints, or managing complex disputes – expert guidance is essential.
Real Estate
The real estate market is constantly evolving, driven by urban growth, sustainability goals, complex financing, and shifting regulations. For companies, investors, and developers, these challenges are rarely simple - making knowledgeable legal advisors essential throughout the real estate lifecycle.
Energy & Industry
Investments in wind and solar energy, biorefining and large-scale energy storage are all here to stay. CO2 emissions have to be reduced, which means that production processes need to be more efficient. This requires significant investment on the part of the industry.
Transport & Logistics
The growing consumer market, the arrival of large European distribution centres and rising demand in the construction sector are all contributing to a greater demand for physical goods flows, and with it a growing need for transport.
Projects & Project Finance
Project financing forms the backbone of many large construction and infrastructure projects, in both the public and private sectors. These projects often require complex financing structures.
Construction & Development
Large-scale infrastructure projects, the redevelopment of existing real estate, an increasing focus on sustainability and changes in national and EU laws and regulations. Over the past 20 years, Houthoff’s extensive Construction & Development Team has developed unrivalled knowledge and experience, which means that our clients are always guaranteed the best possible support.
Procurement
Tendering is a careful process that begins with the preparation of the procurement and continues through to the signing of the contract. At every stage – whether it involves drafting documents, conducting procedures, handling complaints, or managing complex disputes – expert guidance is essential.
Real Estate
The real estate market is constantly evolving, driven by urban growth, sustainability goals, complex financing, and shifting regulations. For companies, investors, and developers, these challenges are rarely simple - making knowledgeable legal advisors essential throughout the real estate lifecycle.
Energy & Industry
Investments in wind and solar energy, biorefining and large-scale energy storage are all here to stay. CO2 emissions have to be reduced, which means that production processes need to be more efficient. This requires significant investment on the part of the industry.
Transport & Logistics
The growing consumer market, the arrival of large European distribution centres and rising demand in the construction sector are all contributing to a greater demand for physical goods flows, and with it a growing need for transport.

​Ranked in Band 1

Chambers Europe

Real Estate: Construction (2025 Edition)

"Michel Klijn is an approachable, practical lawyer who knows what is happening in the business and is able to solve complex matters without losing the business mindset."

Chambers Europe

Real Estate: Construction (2025 Edition)

"Michel Klijn is very experienced and has a great reputation. I am impressed by him."

Chambers Europe

Real Estate: Construction (2025 Edition)

Leading Partner

Legal 500

Construction (2025 Edition)

"Michel Klijn is a seasoned lawyer who advises us on contractual issues and procurement law issues. He also litigates in extensive legal proceedings surrounding a large construction project. All of this is done to your complete satisfaction."

Legal 500

Construction (2025 Edition)

Recommended

Legal 500

Project Finance and PFI (2025 Edition)
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Publications

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1 March 2024
1 March 2024
Vergoeding van prijsstijgingen bij gunning na gestanddoeningstermijn. TBR.
6 June 2021
6 June 2021
Kans op wind: de spelregels bij tenders voor windparken op zee. Tijdschrift van aanbestedingsrecht.
17 March 2016
17 March 2016
Country Reports Public-Private Partnership in the Netherlands. EPPL.
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