NL Patent Office

Search assistance

Search assistance is for entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers, students and other interested parties in the Netherlands only.

NL Patent Office offers another tool to obtain information known as search assistance. If you decide to search the patent databases yourself, we would always advise you to begin by searching by words. You can then view the classification codes, which can provide the basis for a specific search strategy. If you still don't succeed, we would be pleased to help you by means of search assistance.

If you think you might be eligible for search assistance, please consult our public information office by e-mailaddress This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Obligation of confidentiality
All employees of NL Patent Office have a duty to observe confidentiality. That means that you may speak freely with them about your idea or invention.