Introducing several waves of reforms, the Dutch Health Act 1956 appeared outdated. What remained is a minimalistic piece of legislation defining the supervisory role of the Health Care Inspectorate in the field of public health. One of the lessons learned is to cherish the value of an umbrella Health Act, providing a comprehensive and consistent set of legal norms supplemented by more detailed legislation. Otherwise, the risk of a ‘patchwork of statutory laws’ with inherent inconsistencies is eminent. At the same time, new understanding on pan-European human rights in health care should be an integral part of modernising patients’ rights legislation, irrespective of the nature of such norms (civil or public law). It will thus balance both individual and social rights in health care, while incorporating the public debate in emerging health-related issues as adopted by the Oviedo Convention.