The Hoge Raad van Holland, Zeeland en West-Friesland[1] (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦoːɣə raːt fɑn ˌɦɔlɑnt ˌzeːlɑnt ɛn ˌʋɛst ˈfrislɑnt];[2] usually translated in the literature as "High Court of Holland and Zeeland," though "Supreme Court" may better designate its function, and the literal translation is: "High Council of Holland and Zeeland") was the supreme court of the provinces of Holland and Zeeland in the Dutch Republic in the period 1582–1795. This court is considered a direct predecessor of the current Hoge Raad der Nederlanden (Supreme Court of the Netherlands). It played an important role in the formation of Roman-Dutch law, which is still officially regarded as a source of law in South Africa.[3]