Official costume
The judicial robe belongs to formal roles within the administration of justice and is worn according to regulations.
Judiciary · institutional robe segment
Robe for judges, public prosecutors and court clerks
Compare role-specific models, official rules, buying or bespoke work, costs, accessories and maintenance — while retaining the full market data on the judiciary.
View roles and robe types →
How much does a judicial robe cost?
Buying a robe or gown: decision guide
2,715 judges & appellate judges · 2025
of whom 258 in training
institutional segment
Judge’s robeAppellate judge’s robePublic prosecutorAdvocate generalCourt clerkBands & capHoge RaadBespoke tailoring
Positioning
The judicial robe is official dress, not ordinary clothing
Within the judiciary, the robe represents role, authority, neutrality, the administration of justice and professional recognition.
Role identification
Judges, appellate judges, public prosecutors, advocates general and court clerks have different robe designs.
Institutional appearance
Fit, panels, sleeve cuffs, bands, cap, fabric choice and finishing determine professional value.
Market size
The judiciary in figures
The figures on this page provide context for roles, use and possible replacement.
2,715judges and appellate judges (2025), including 258 in training
258of whom in training; not an additional group on top of 2,715
13,536people in total within De Rechtspraak (derived: 2,715 + 10,821)
10,821Judiciary staff other than judges and appellate judges
6,830OM staff in all roles · 31 December 2025
±350–575estimated number of enquiries per year for having a judicial robe made
Staffing context, not robe wearers. The 258 in training are included in the 2.715. The 13,536 is the sum of 2,715 judges/appellate judges and 10,821 Rechtspraak staff. The 10,821 Rechtspraak staff and 6,830 OM staff are not counts of robe wearers; only role-specific groups wear a robe for certain official duties.
Role matrix
Who wears a robe within the judiciary?
The judicial robe market comprises several roles. Each role has its own context, appearance and possible robe design.
Judge
District and subdistrict court roles; the foundation of the judicial segment.
Appeal court judge
Judge at a court of appeal or higher court.
Public prosecutor
Representative of the Openbaar Ministerie at hearings.
Advocate general
Within the OM, an advocate general from the Ressortsparket represents the OM on appeal. Advocates general at the Parket bij de Hoge Raad belong to an autonomous prosecution office separate from the OM.
Court clerk
Supports the hearing and forms part of the ceremonial whole.
Substitute clerk
A clerk’s role at the Hoge Raad named in the decree; not a general term for every replacement clerk.
Hoge Raad
Highest court; small in number, high in prestige.
District court / court of appeal
The courts in which district and appellate judges sit.
Openbaar Ministerie
The organisation of public prosecutors and advocates general.
Please note: the Openbaar Ministerie is not organisationally part of De Rechtspraak, but in this analysis belongs to the broader cluster of judicial robes of office. Not every judiciary employee wears a robe: at district courts and courts of appeal, article 2 concerns those designated or appointed by the court board to perform registry duties. The Parket bij de Hoge Raad is also separate from the OM.
Gown cluster
What types of judicial robes are there?
The judicial robe is not a single product but a group of official garments with different versions by role and court.
Judge’s robe
Foundation of the judicial segment for court roles.
Public prosecutor’s robe
Closely related to judicial robes of office.
Appellate judge’s robe
For higher courts, often with more luxurious finishing.
Advocate general’s robe
Role-specific design; distinguish the Ressortsparket from the independent Parket bij de Hoge Raad.
Court clerk’s robe
Part of institutional stock and ceremonial use.
Hoge Raad robe
Small in number, high in prestige and symbolic value.
Bands for the judiciary
A fixed part of formal official dress.
Cap for the judiciary
Ceremonial headwear within certain roles.
Details may differ in panels, sleeve turnbacks, fabric, moiré, bands, cap and finishing.
Demand occasions
When does the need for a judicial robe arise?
Demand arises from new entrants, training, appointments, changes of role, replacement, institutional stock and care.
Judicial training
During training, the future magistrate becomes familiar with the robe.
Appointment as judge or appellate judge
The appointment determines the office and therefore the applicable design. Official dress is worn on the occasions described in Article 2.
Starting as a public prosecutor
Joining the OM does not automatically make someone a robe wearer. The decree applies to the judicial OM officials it names and the occasions described in Article 2.
Change of role to appellate judge or advocate general
A higher role may require a different robe design.
Institutional provision
A court may manage a central, shared or temporary robe provision. Public national figures on its scale, ownership and loan robes are unavailable; check this with each court.
Replacement due to wear
After years of use, replacement or repair is needed.
Replace bands or cap
Bands and caps wear out faster and are replaced separately.
Repairs, lining or alterations
Repairs, lining work and alterations extend service life.
Understanding the market
Personal robe, official stock and replacement demand
Not every robe purchase is individual. Institutional stock, role-based use, replacement and care also play a part within the judiciary.
New entrants, changes of role, personal robes, institutional stock, replacement and service needs together form the basis for the estimated annual number of enquiries about commissioning a judicial robe. The range below shows these factors separately.
Personal robe
A personal robe tailored to the role, requirements and appearance.
Institutional stock
Robes managed by judicial bodies for ceremonial and official use.
Replacement and maintenance
Replacement, repair and maintenance as recurring demand.
Market estimate
How this range is constructed
The estimated number of requests per year to have a judicial robe or a robe for the Public Prosecution Service made is ±350–575. The range accounts for role-specific new entrants, institutional stock, specialist models and replacement.
| Scenario component | Significance for the range |
|---|---|
| New entrants at De Rechtspraak | Possible inclusion in personal or institutional stock |
| New entrants and role changes at the OM | Only for roles in which a robe applies |
| Replacement and institutional stock | Wear, size changes, repairs and replenishment of shared stock |
| Specialist role-specific designs | Including role-specific designs in higher courts |
| Estimated number of enquiries per year for having a judicial robe or a robe for an OM role made | ±350–575 requests per year |
This is a substantiated market estimate.
Costs
How much does a judicial robe cost?
Publicly observed price guidance — checked in summer 2026. Role, requirements, fabric, panels, sleeve cuffs, bands, cap and finishing determine the final price.
Basic design
±€399 excl. VATPublicly observed price guidance for a basic version. Check the design, role, fabric, included bands and any alterations.
Judge / prosecutor
±€790–€1,045 excl. VATPublicly observed bespoke prices. Design, fabric quality, role-specific details and measurement determine the final price.
More luxurious workshop-made option
±€1,325 excl. VATMore luxurious materials and finishing. Role, lining, bands, cap, embroidery and personal alterations may be charged separately.
Checked in summer 2026. These are public market indications, not average market prices or an offer from Togamaker.com. Always request a current, written and fully itemised quotation. Compare all robe prices and possible additional costs →
Recurring market
The judicial market extends beyond the robe itself
Bands, cap, lining, sleeves, front panels, fastening, repairs and maintenance may create recurring service needs.
Replace bands
Bands may wear out independently of the robe and be replaced separately.
Replace the cap
Replacement of ceremonial headwear.
Repair sleeve cuffs
Repair of sleeve cuffs and finishing details.
Panels and finishing
Maintenance of bands of trim, piping and finishing.
Repair the lining
Repair or replacement of the inner lining.
Repair the fastening
Repair of the fastening, hooks or buttons.
Clean the robe
Professional cleaning and care of the robe.
Alter or repair a robe
Adjustments to length or fit, or repairs.
Use and replacement
A robe has no fixed replacement interval
Inspect fabric, seams, fastening, lining and fit. Intensity of use and care matter more than age alone.
Check the role-specific design, bands, cap and finishing in the official decree.
Look for thinned fabric, loose seams, damaged sleeves and worn lining.
Buttons, fastening, lining and local seams can often be repaired.
Rechtspraak described a robe that was severely worn after fifteen years of intensive use; this is not a general standard.
Next step
Repair or replace?
First assess role requirements, construction, fit and repair costs before deciding.
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Age alone does not determine whether a robe is worn out; condition, fit and presentability do.Togamaker.com — independent care guide
Robe and gown categories
Explore other types of robes and gowns
Explore other robe and gown types by role, protocol and use.
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View the BABS robeMinister’s robe
For worship services, installations, tradition, bands and repairs.
View the minister’s robeAll types of robes and gowns
View the full overview of robe types, roles and uses.
View all robe and gown types
Basis of the information
Sources and methodology
The figures on this page are based on official staff data and regulations; verify the current price through an itemised quotation.
- De Rechtspraak — Rechtspraak in cijfers 2025
- Openbaar Ministerie — annual report 2025
- Overheid.nl — current consolidated text of the Kostuum- en titulatuurbesluit rechterlijke organisatie
- Staatsblad 1997, 763 — historical publication of the decree
- Rechtspraak Magazine — practical example of an intensively worn robe
- Public price guidance — public basic price example for a judge’s robe
- Public price guidance — public bespoke and premium examples of judges’ robes
- Public price guidance — public made-to-measure examples for judges’ and prosecutors’ robes