The amount of litigation has grown considerably since 1970 in both the Netherlands and West Germany. This is causing concern on both sides of the border. However, the level of litigation is vastly different, the Dutch avoiding court procedures much more easily than the Germans in similar problem situations. A comparison of the ‘legal cultures’ of the Netherlands and the adjacent West German Land of North-Rhine-Westphalia reveals that the difference holds true for most types of court cases. The German courts are called upon to decide far more cases on criminal, civil as well as administrative conflicts, than are the Dutch courts. Not only for this reason, but also because the Dutch courts take a more pragmatic approach to cases, the need for judges is six times higher in North-Rhine-Westphalia. It would be all too easy to see a direct connection between the subsidies granted to the clients of the legal services and the overloading of the court system. The data, however, shows that the contrary holds true. Given the overall availability of legal services the emphasis could be said to lie on litigation in the German system and on advice and assistance in the Dutch system. The Dutch do not make use of the courts so often because they have the alternative of an extensive network of noncommercial advice and assistance agencies and tribunals (in particular for landlord - and - tenant and employment cases). In West Germany, on the other hand, there is less sifting of cases in the early stages of conflict and procedure, owing to the advocates monopoly on legal advice services and the underdeveloped system of legal aid.