Dutch court orders Prijsvrij to pay 60,000 euros for wrongful termination

A Dutch court has ruled that the online travel agency Prijsvrij must pay an employee approximately 60,000 euros after unlawfully dismissing him for participating in the Rotterdam Marathon while on sick leave.

The employee, who had been diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis—an autoimmune disorder causing muscle weakness—had been on long-term sick leave. Despite his condition, he maintained a training regimen of four runs per week, a fact he had disclosed to a company doctor. Following his completion of the marathon in April 2025, Prijsvrij terminated his contract, alleging he had deceived the company regarding his health.

The Court of Appeal in The Hague found the dismissal to be an “unverhältnismäßige Maßnahme” (disproportionate measure). The court criticized the company for employing private investigators to shadow the employee during routine activities like grocery shopping. The ruling mandates the payment of nearly 60,000 euros in compensation and legal costs.