Dutch blockchain, real estate and land registration
| Pages | 93-108 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPPEL-11-2019-0053 |
| Published date | 28 May 2020 |
| Date | 28 May 2020 |
| Author | Jan Veuger |
| Subject Matter | Property law,Real estate & property,Property management & built environment |
Dutch blockchain, real estate and
land registration
Jan Veuger
Saxion Hogescholen, Deventer, The Netherlands
Abstract
Purpose –Afirst exploration of the impact of blockchain on real estate in the Netherlands took place in
2017. In the follow-up, severalblockchain and real estate studies have appeared with research on real estate
and blockchain worldwide. In view of the previous research, the question remained as to what is now
happening worldwide in the field of blockchain and real estate. This has resulted in the start-up of the
Foundation for InternationalBlockchain and Real Estate Expertise(FIBREE) network. This network has led
to the launch of two investigations: Industry Report Blockchain Real Estate 2019 on exploration of
international products and a database exploring blockchain and real estate on exploring (inter)national
research. This paper aims to provides an overview and analysis of all relevant scientific publications –
targeted on the Netherlands –and does so within a context of a first small international exploration of
internationalresearch, experts and products –in particular land registration.
Design/methodology/approach –I have asked everybodyat the Regionals Chairs of FIBREE to collect
data with info about which blockchain and real estate product-suppliers or initiatives do you see, which
research-output onblockchain and real estate is there and who are the experts with which specific expertise?
This paper provides an overview and analysis of all relevant scientific publications –targeted on the
Netherlands –anddoes so within a context of a first small internationalexploration of international research,
expertsand products –in particular land registration.
Findings –This paper provides an overview and analysisof all relevant scientific publications –targeted
on the Netherlands –and does so within a context of a first small international explorationof international
research,experts and products –in particular land registration.
Research limitations/implications –A question that remains is to continue to look at existing
markets or too disruptive innovation newcomers in the blockchain market. The question is whether
blockchain is onlya technological disruption or a real game changer andwhether the entire value chain of the
market is going to embrace this. Confidence in blockchain is therefore a precondition for guiding that
disruption where (new) companies use new technology to offer cheaper and superior alternatives in the
market. Butthe big questionis how quickly blockchain will develop as well as all its applications.
Practical/social implications –A question that remainsis to continue to look at existing markets or too
disruptive innovation newcomers in the blockchain market. The question is whether blockchain is only a
technological disruptionor a real game changer and whether the entire value chain of the market is going to
embrace this. Confidence in blockchain is therefore a precondition for guiding that disruption where (new)
companies use new technologiesto offer cheaper and superior alternatives in the market.But the big question
is how quicklyblockchain will develop as well as all its applications.
Originality/value –Afirst explorationof the influence of blockchain on real estate in the Netherlands took
place in 2017. In the follow-up, several blockchain and real estate studies appear with research about real
estate and blockchainworldwide.
Keywords Land registration, Blockchain, Exploration, Influence, Technology
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction: blockchain technology and applications
In 2019, the scientific peer-reviewed book Blockchain Technology and Applications (Veuger,
2019) was published by Nova Science Publishers, New York, USA. The internet already
makes it possible to transfer information quickly, economically (paperless) and without
Dutch
blockchain
93
Received9 November 2019
Revised25 January 2020
Accepted1 April 2020
Journalof Property, Planning and
EnvironmentalLaw
Vol.12 No. 2, 2020
pp. 93-108
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9407
DOI 10.1108/JPPEL-11-2019-0053
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9407.htm
intermediaries being involved. Blockchain gives the same benefits for transferring values.
Internet is used to transfer word and image, and blockchain is used for transactions. A
blockchain, a chain of blocks, is a system that canbe used to record data. Examples of this
are banking matters, property deeds or other data; for example, products. A special feature
of blockchain is that it has a right to exist without a trusted intermediary. A blockchain is
therefore a chain of blocks where it is important how the various blocks form a chain. Each
block contains coded data andcan be included in the chain if these data refer to the previous
data, thus forming a chain(Veuger, 2020, p. 37). The distinguishing and exclusivefeature of
the blockchain is a decentralized nature of the consensus (combining the mentioned
properties) and absenceof authorities –a central server –which coordinate interaction.
This paper provides an overview of developments on blockchain technology and its
applications with the following themes and with the assistance of experts from Austria,
Brazil, China, Croatia, GA, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and
Switzerland:
Blockchain and the Agenda 2030 by Danielle Mendes Thame Denny;
Application of Blockchain Technology in the Field of E-Government Services by
Jiarui Zhang;
Can the cybersecurity of smart building be improved using blockchain technology?
by Ben van Lier;
Infuence of blockchain applications and digitalization on real estate by Jan Veuger;
Blockchain: Technology Looking For a Problem in Real Estate? by Jo Bronckers and
Jan Veuger et al.;
Start up “Get a Brick”in Real Estate by Wendel Hulsebos and Jan Veuger;
Blockchain: An Efficiency Solution For Housing Associations? by Michel Vonk;
Blockchain Applications in Support of the Energy Transition by Mieke Oostra and
Jelle Rijpma; and
Many Keys of Blockchain for Real Estate by Esther Dekker.
A book review was included by Associate Professor Bojan Grum, PhD, New University,
European Law Faculty Ljubljana Slovenia (Grum, 2019) and Hai-Jew (2019), Kansas State
University, USA.
2. Remaining questions
A question that remains is whether to continueto look at existing markets or too disruptive
innovation newcomersin the blockchain market. The questionis whether blockchain is only
a technological disruptionor a real game changer and whether the entire market valuechain
is going to embrace this. Confidence in blockchain is therefore a precondition for guiding
that disruption where (new) companies use new technologies to offer more economical and
superior alternatives.But the big question is how quickly blockchain and all its applications
will develop. Stephen Hawkingwrote in his book “Brief answers to the big questions”about
how we shape the future (Hawking, 2018, p. 207):
In the same way that the internet, our mobile phones, medical imaging, satellite navigation and
social network would have been incomprehensible tot the society of only a few generations ago,
our future world beginning to conceive. Information on its own will not take us there, but
intelligent and creactive use will.
JPPEL
12,2
94
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