Contract

Exhibit 5.1

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E     XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS   XXXXXXXX 0X 0000 XX XXXXXXXXX XX XXX 000 0000 XX XXXXXXXXX   TEL x00 00 0000 000 FAX x00 00 0000 000 xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx

ABN AMRO Holding N.V. as guarantor ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as issuer Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 00 0000 XX Xxxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx   RBS Securities Inc. 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America as selling agent Our ref: 00-00000000 Direct Dial: x00 00 000 0000 E-Mail: xxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx     29 September 2009

Dear Sirs,

ABN AMRO Holding N.V.

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

issue of securities under US Shelf Registration Statement

1. SCOPE OF OUR ROLE

1.1 We have acted as special legal counsel (xxxxxxxx) in The Netherlands for ABN AMRO Bank N.V. of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 00, 0000 XX Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx (the "Bank") and ABN AMRO Holding N.V. of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 00, 0000 XX Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx ("Holding") for the purpose of rendering a legal opinion as to certain specific matters of Netherlands law in connection with a registration statement on Form F-3 of the Bank and Holding (the "Registration Statement"), filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 29 September 2009 pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the "Securities Act") for the registration of the sale from time to time of securities of the Bank. In relation to the Registration Statement a prospectus (the "Prospectus") has been prepared and any reference herein to the Registration Statement will include the Prospectus.

XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP IS A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES UNDER NUMBER 0C323571. THE FIRM'S REGISTERED OFFICE AND PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS AT 00 XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX, XXXXXX, X00 0XX. A LIST OF THE MEMBERS IS OPEN TO INSPECTION AT THIS OFFICE. THE FIRM USES THE WORD "PARTNER" TO REFER TO A MEMBER OF XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP OR AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT WITH EQUIVALENT STANDING AND QUALIFICATIONS.

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

1.2 We understand that under the Registration Statement, the Bank may from time to time issue debt securities (the "Debt Securities") to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Holding.

1.3 We have not been involved in structuring the Registration Statement nor in drafting or negotiating the Document (as defined below) or the Registration Statement, save for suggesting changes to the extent necessary for the purposes of this opinion. Accordingly, we assume no responsibility for the adequacy of the Document or for the appropriateness of any disclosures made in the Registration Statement (except to the extent expressly stated otherwise in this opinion).

1.4 Capitalised terms used herein without definition shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Document, as the case may be. Headings in this opinion are for ease of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation hereof.

2. DOCUMENTS EXAMINED/RELIANCE

2.1 In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined and relied upon the following documents:

(a) a faxed copy of an abbreviated extract (beperkt uittreksel) dated 16 September 2009 from the Chamber of Commerce of Amsterdam (the "Chamber") relating to the registration of the Bank under number 00000000 and confirmed to us by the Chamber by telephone on the time and date hereof to have remained unaltered since such date in all respects material for the purpose of this opinion letter;

(b) a faxed copy of the articles of association (statuten) of the Bank as they stand since their last amendment on 26 June 2009, being the currently effective articles of association of the Bank according to the extract referred to in (a) above (the "Bank Articles of Association");

(c) an electronic copy of an abbreviated extract (beperkt uittreksel) dated 15 September 2009 from the Chamber relating to the registration of Holding under number 33220369 and confirmed to us by the Chamber by telephone on the time and date hereof to have remained unaltered since such date in all respects;

(d) a faxed copy of the articles of association (statuten) of Holding as they stand since their last amendment on 24 November 2008, being the currently effective articles of association of Holding according to the extract referred to in (c) above (the "Holding Articles of Association" and together with the Bank Articles of Association referred to as the "Articles of Association");

(e) an electronic copy of an extract from the minutes of the meeting of the Managing Board of the Bank and of Holding held on 28 September 2009 (the "Board Minutes"), signed by Mrs. M.L.G. van Tunen;

-2-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

(f) an electronic copy of an extract from the minutes of the meeting of the supervisory board of the Bank and Holding dated 28 September 2009, signed by Mrs. M.L.G. van Tunen (the "Supervisory Board Minutes");

(g) an executed copy of our legal opinion dated 29 September 2006 addressed to ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and ABN AMRO Holding N.V. (the "Original Opinion");

(h) the documents not mentioned above or below but listed in the Original Opinion as having been examined and relied upon by us;

(i) an electronic copy of the Registration Statement; and

(j) an electronic copy of an executed senior indenture dated 15 September 2006 between, among others, Holding as guarantor and Bank as issuer (the "Document").

3. ASSUMPTIONS

In examining and in describing the documents listed above and in giving this opinion we have, with your permission, assumed:

3.1 (i) the power, capacity (corporate, regulatory and other) and authority of all parties (other than the Bank and Holding) to enter into the Document and to perform their respective obligations thereunder, (ii) the legal capacity (handelingsbekwaamheid) of all individuals who have signed or will sign the Document or have given or will give confirmations on which we have expressed reliance (including those individuals acting on behalf of the Bank and Holding) and (iii) that the Document, the Debt Securities and all other agreements and documents relating thereto have been or will be (where appropriate) duly authorised, executed and delivered by all parties thereto (other than the Bank and Holding) and create valid and legally binding obligations for all parties thereto as a matter of applicable law (if other than Netherlands law and the chosen governing law);

3.2 that each party to the Document (other than the Bank and Holding) is duly incorporated and organised, validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is legally relevant to its capacity) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and of the jurisdiction of its place of business;

3.3 the due compliance with all matters (including, without limitation, the obtaining of the necessary consents, licences, approvals and authorisations, the making of the necessary filings, lodgements, registrations and notifications and the payment of stamp duties and other taxes) under any law other than that of The Netherlands as may relate to or be required in respect of :

3.3.1 the Document and any Debt Securities issued thereunder from time to time (including their creation, issuance and distribution);

3.3.2 any borrowing effected thereunder;

-3-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

3.3.3 the lawful execution of the Document;

3.3.4 the parties thereto (including the Bank and Holding) or other persons affected thereby;

3.3.5 the performance or enforcement of the Document and the Debt Securities by or against the parties (including the Bank and Holding) or such other persons;

3.3.6 the distribution (electronically or otherwise) of the Registration Statement or any other offer documents from time to time; or

3.3.7 the creation of valid and legally binding obligations of all parties to the Document and the Debt Securities (including the Bank and Holding) enforceable against such parties in accordance with their respective terms;

3.4 that any obligations under the Document and the Debt Securities which are to be performed in any jurisdiction outside The Netherlands will not be illegal or contrary to public policy under the laws of such jurisdiction;

3.5 the genuineness of all signatures on all documents or on the originals thereof, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted as originals and the conformity of (photo)copy, conformed copy, faxed, electronically scanned or specimen documents to the originals thereof;

3.6 that there are no supplemental terms and conditions agreed between the parties to the Document or in relation to the Debt Securities that could affect or qualify our opinion as set out herein and that there is no agreement, instrument or other arrangement between any of the parties to the Document which modifies or supersedes the Document;

3.7 that all agreements and other formalities for the issuance of Debt Securities from time to time under the Registration Statement will be documented, executed, effectuated and/or authenticated on behalf of (i) Holding either by any two members of its board of managing directors or by a duly appointed representative of Holding and (ii) the Bank either by any two members of its board of managing directors or by a duly appointed representative of the Bank;

3.8 that under the laws of the State of New York, to which they are expressed to be subject, and under all other relevant laws (other than those of The Netherlands):

(a) the Document constitutes and will at all times constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of all parties thereto (including the Bank and Holding), enforceable against them in accordance with their respective terms;

(b) any Debt Securities issued by the Bank from time to time constitute and will at all times constitute the Bank's valid and legally binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms;

-4-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

(c) the choice of the laws of the State of New York to govern the Document and the Debt Securities is a valid and binding selection;

(d) the submission by the Bank and Holding to the jurisdiction of the State or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York with regard to any actions or proceedings arising our of or relating to the Document and the Debt Securities is (in each case as a matter of the laws of the State of New York, by which they are expressed to be governed) valid and binding upon each of Bank and Holding;

and that, without prejudice to our opinion under paragraph ‎5.3 below, the Netherlands courts will, in giving effect to the choice of law provision of the Document and the Debt Securities apply the laws of the State of New York correctly;

3.9 that the Debt Securities will be issued, offered and sold materially in the form and denominations set out in, on the terms and in accordance with the provisions of the Document and the Registration Statement and will not contain any provisions which are contrary to Dutch public policy;

3.10 that the Bank and Holding will comply with their respective reporting obligations to the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank N.V., "DNB") under the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht, "FMSA");

3.11 that none of the Document, the Registration Statement or the Debt Securities or any of the transactions contemplated thereby (whether individually or seen as a whole) are or will result in a breach of the laws (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the tax laws) of the State of New York or of such other relevant jurisdiction (other than The Netherlands), or are intended to avoid the applicability or the consequences of such laws in a manner that is not permitted thereunder;

3.12 that the joint meeting of the Managing Board of the Bank and Holding held on 28 September 2009 (as referred to in the Board Minutes) and the meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Bank and of Holding held on 28 September 2009 were convened and conducted in accordance with the laws of The Netherlands, the Bank Articles of Association and the Holding Articles of Association;

3.13 that under the laws governing the existence and extent of the authorisations contained in the Powers of Attorney (as defined in the Original Opinion) towards third parties (as determined pursuant to the rules of the The Hague Convention on the Laws Applicable to Agency), if other than the laws of The Netherlands, the Powers of Attorney authorised the relevant Attorneys (as defined in the Original Opinion) on the date of the Document to create binding obligations for the Bank and Holding towards the parties with whom such Attorneys acted in the name of and on behalf of the Bank and Holding respectively;

3.14 that the Powers of Attorney, the Board Minutes and the Supervisory Board Minutes were in full force and effect unaltered at the date hereof (or with respect to the Powers of Attorney unaltered as at the date of the Document), that all factual confirmations

-5-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

set out therein were true and accurate when given and remain true and accurate as at the date hereof (or with respect to the Powers of Attorney as at the date of the Document), that none of the Banks' and/or Holdings' respective managing directors has a conflict of interests with the Bank or Holding in respect of the issue of the Debt Securities, that none of the Bank's and/or Holding's respective managing directors as at the date of the Document had a conflict of interests with the Bank or Holding in respect of the execution of the Document on or prior to the date of the Original Opinion, that would preclude him from validly representing the Bank or Holding;

3.15 that the Powers of Attorney were executed by any two members acting jointly of the Managing Board of the Bank and Holding as at the date of execution of the Powers of Attorney and the date of the Document respectively and acted in the Bank's and Holding's corporate interest respectively;

3.16 that the execution of the Document and the performance of the transactions contemplated thereby and the issuance of the Debt Securities are in the best corporate interest of the Bank and Holding and not prejudicial to their respective creditors (present and future);

3.17 that the Debt Securities qualify as securities within the meaning of EU Directive 2003/71/EC (the "Prospectus Directive") as implemented in The Netherlands) and that each issue of Debt Securities under the Registration Statement, each distribution of the Registration Statement and any pricing supplement (whether electronically or otherwise) and all invitations, offers, offer advertisements, publications and other documents, sales and deliveries of Debt Securities in The Netherlands have been and will continue to be made in accordance with the FMSA and the Saving Certificates Act (Wet inzake Spaarbewijzen), to the extent applicable;

3.18 that all relevant parties entered into the Document and will be entering into agreements for the issuance of Debt Securities under the Registration Statement from time to time for bona fide commercial reasons and on arm’s length terms; and

3.19 that any agent offering Debt Securities or distributing the Registration Statement, any pricing supplement or any circulars, offer documents or information relating to the Bank, Holding and/or the Debt Securities in or from The Netherlands (whether electronically or otherwise) will be licensed or exempt pursuant to Article 2: 96 et seq. of the FMSA.

4. SCOPE OF OUR REVIEW/MATTERS EXCLUDED

4.1 The Document and the issue and offering of the Debt Securities are expressed to be governed by the laws of the State of New York. As Dutch lawyers we are not qualified to assess the meaning and consequences of the terms of the Document or the Debt Securities under the laws of the State of New York and we have made no investigation into such laws as a basis for the opinion expressed hereinafter and do not express or imply any opinion thereon. Accordingly, our review of the Document and the Debt Securities has been limited to the terms thereof as they appear on the face thereof, without reference to the general body of the laws of the State of New York

-6-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

incorporated into or made applicable to the Document and the Debt Securities by the choice of law clause contained therein.

4.2 We express no opinion:

4.2.1 as to any law other than the laws of The Netherlands in force as at the date hereof as applied and interpreted according to present published case-law of The Netherlands courts, administrative rulings and notices of and communications with DNB, the Ministry of Finance and the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten) and authoritative literature;

4.2.2 even though the Registration Statement contemplates the issuance of Debt Securities after the date hereof, on the question whether the future or continued performance of any of the Bank's and/or Holding's obligations under or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Document or the Debt Securities will not contravene such laws, application or interpretation if altered in the future;

4.2.3 save as expressly stated below, on international law, including (without limitation) the rules of or promulgated under or by any bi- or multi-lateral treaty or treaty organisation (unless implemented into Netherlands law) or on any capital adequacy, anti-trust, data protection, market abuse, stabilisation or competition laws;

4.2.4 on the tax laws of The Netherlands;

4.2.5 with regard to the effect of any systems of law (other than the laws of The Netherlands) even in cases where, under Netherlands law, any foreign law falls to be applied and we assume that any applicable law (other than Netherlands law) would not affect or qualify our opinion as set out below;

4.2.6 on any specific issue of Debt Securities;

4.2.7 on any commercial, regulatory, accounting or other non-legal matter or on the ability of the Bank and/or Holding to meet their financial or other obligations under the Debt Securities or the Document; or

4.2.8 the compliance with the requirements of the Dutch Works Council Act (Wet op de ondernemingsraden).

4.3 We have not been concerned with investigating or verifying the accuracy of any facts, representations or warranties set out in any of the Registration Statement and the Document (with the exception of those matters on which we have specifically and expressly given our opinion). To the extent that the accuracy of such facts, representations and warranties not so investigated or verified and of any facts stated in any of the other documents listed above (or orally confirmed) is relevant to the contents of this opinion, we have assumed, with your permission, that such facts,

-7-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

representations and warranties were true and accurate when made and remain true and accurate.

4.4 Other than to review the documents listed above, we have not examined any contracts, instruments or other documents entered into by or affecting the Bank and/or Holding or any of their corporate records and, although we have made the enquiries referred to in paragraph ‎2.1(a) and ‎2.1(c) above and in paragraph ‎5.1 below, we have not undertaken any factual investigations or made any other enquiries or searches concerning the Bank and/or Holding and we have otherwise assumed that:

4.4.1 none of the competent internal bodies of the Bank or Holding have passed or adopted a resolution approving a voluntary winding-up of the Bank or Holding or approving a statutory merger (juridische fusie) (with the Bank or Holding as disappearing entity) or a de-merger (splitsing) (with the Bank or Holding as disappearing entity)

4.4.2 no petition has been presented to, and no order has been made by, a court for the bankruptcy (faillissement), dissolution (ontbinding en vereffening) or a declaration that the Bank or Holding is in a situation which requires emergency regulations (noodregeling, "Emergency Regulations") in the interests of all creditors of the Bank as referred to in Section 3.5.5 of the FMSA or has been granted a (preliminary) moratorium of payments ((voorlopige) surseance van betaling), to the extent applicable; and

4.4.3 no receiver, trustee, administrator (bewindvoerder) or similar official has been appointed in respect of the Bank and/or Holding or any of their respective assets.

4.5 Where an assumption is stated to be made in this opinion, we have not made any investigation with respect to the matters that are the subject of such assumption and we express no view as to such matters.

5. OPINION

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the further qualifications set out below and subject to any factual matters, documents or events not disclosed to us by the parties concerned, having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

5.1 Corporate Status, Power and Capacity

5.1.1 The Bank is registered as: (i) a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap), (ii) incorporated on 7 February 1825, (iii) validly existing under the laws of The Netherlands, and (iv) licensed as a credit institution (kredietinstelling) under the FSMA in the register as referred to in Article 1:107 of the FSMA.

-8-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

5.1.2 Holding is registered as: (i) a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap), (ii) incorporated on 30 May 1990 and (iii) validly existing under the laws of The Netherlands.

5.1.3 Each of the Bank and Holding:

(a) had corporate power and corporate capacity to execute and deliver the Document on the date of the Original Opinion;

(b) have the corporate power and corporate capacity to authorise the distribution of the Registration Statement on their respective behalf, (in the case of the Bank) issue the Debt Securities and to undertake and perform the obligations expressed to be assumed by them in the Document; and

(c) have not omitted to take any internal corporate action in connection with their entering into of the Document, the distribution of the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Debt Securities the absence of which may give them the right to assert against contracting parties acting in good faith that they have not validly entered into the Document or issued the Debt Securities.

5.2 Execution and validity

5.2.1 The Document has been duly executed by the Bank and Holding and the Document (including the guarantee and indemnity from Holding in article 13 (Guarantee and Indemnity) of such Document) will constitute their valid and legally binding obligations, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms.

5.2.2 When the Debt Securities are duly executed by the manual or facsimile signature of any two of the members of their managing board or other duly authorised representative(s), and are duly documented, authenticated, delivered and paid for, the Debt Securities will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Bank, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms.

5.3 Choice of Law

5.3.1 The courts of The Netherlands will observe and give effect to the choice of the laws of the State of New York as the law governing the Document and the Debt Securities in any proceedings in relation to such Document or Debt Securities and the laws of the State of New York would accordingly be applied by the Dutch courts if the Document or the Debt Securities or any claim thereunder comes under their jurisdiction upon proper proof of the relevant provision of the laws of the State of New York.

-9-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

5.3.2 When applying the laws of the State of New York as the law governing the Document and Debt Securities, the courts of competent jurisdiction of The Netherlands, if any, by virtue of the 1980 Rome Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (the "Rome Convention"):

(a) may give effect to the mandatory rules of law of another jurisdiction with which the situation has a close connection, if and insofar as, under the law of the latter jurisdiction, those rules must be applied whatever the law applicable to the Document or the Debt Securities (article 7(1) of the Rome Convention);

(b) will apply the law of The Netherlands in a situation where it is mandatory irrespective of the law otherwise applicable to the Document or the Debt Securities (article 7(2) of the Rome Convention);

(c) may refuse to apply the laws of the State of New York if such application is manifestly incompatible with the public policy of The Netherlands (article 16 of the Rome Convention); and

(d) shall have regard to the law of the country in which performance takes place in relation to the manner of performance and the steps to be taken in the event of defective performance (article 10(2) of the Rome Convention).

5.4 Submission to Jurisdiction

5.4.1 The submission by each of Bank and Holding to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the jurisdiction of the State or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York in respect of any proceedings arising out of or in relation to the Document and the Debt Securities is valid and legally binding upon the each of the Bank and Holding and not subject to unilateral revocation.

5.4.2 However, because of the non-exclusive nature of the jurisdiction clause a Netherlands court may assume jurisdiction on the basis of the general provisions of the Judgments Regulation (as defined below) or, if the Judgments Regulation does not apply, of Netherlands domestic rules on international jurisdiction.

5.4.3 Furthermore, a competent court in The Netherlands may assume jurisdiction (i) if the defendant enters an appearance and does not contest the jurisdiction prior to defences relating to the merits and, in the event that Council Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement and Judgments in Civil and Commercial matters of 22 December 2000 (as amended) (the "Judgments Regulation") does not apply, there is a reasonable ground for jurisdiction of such Netherlands court; (ii) pursuant to Article 254 Dutch Code of Civil Procedure (Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering) in urgent matters, when, in view of the interests of the parties, provisional  

-10-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

measures are required or (iii) in the context of an attachment against Bank or Holding or any of their respective assets.

5.5 Enforceability of foreign judgements in The Netherlands

5.5.1 In the absence of an applicable treaty or convention providing for the recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters which is binding in The Netherlands, a judgement rendered by a New York court against the Bank or Holding will not be recognised and enforced by the courts of The Netherlands and in order to obtain a judgement that is enforceable against the Bank or Holding, it will be necessary to relitigate the matter before the competent court of The Netherlands and to submit the judgement rendered by the New York court in the course of such proceedings, in which case the Netherlands court may give such effect to the foreign judgement as it deems appropriate.

5.5.2 However, according to current practice, based upon case law, Netherlands courts will in all probability render a judgement in accordance with a judgement of a New York court if and to the extent that the following conditions are met:

(a) the foreign court rendering the judgement has jurisdiction over the matter on internationally acceptable grounds (e.g. if the parties have agreed, for example in a contract, to submit their disputes to the foreign court) and has conducted the proceedings in accordance with generally accepted principles of fair trial (e.g. after proper service of process);

(b) the foreign judgement is final and definite; and

(c) such recognition is not in conflict with Netherlands public policy (i.e. a fundamental principle of Dutch law) or an existing Netherlands judgement.

6. QUALIFICATIONS

The opinion expressed above is subject to the following qualifications:

6.1 the terms "enforceable", "enforceability", "legal", "valid", "binding" and "effective" (or any combination thereof) where used above, mean that the obligations assumed by the relevant party under the relevant document are of a type which Netherlands law generally recognises and enforces; they do not mean that these obligations will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their terms; in particular, enforcement before the courts of The Netherlands will in any event be subject to:

6.1.1 the degree to which the relevant obligations are enforceable under their governing law (if other than Netherlands law) and the availability under such law of defences such as, without limitation, set-off (unless validly waived),

-11-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

fraud, duress, misrepresentation, undue influence, unforeseen circumstances, force majeure, error, abatement and counter-claim;

6.1.2 the nature of the remedies available in the Netherlands courts (and nothing in this opinion must be taken as indicating that specific performance or injunctive relief would be available as remedies for the enforcement of such obligations);

6.1.3 the acceptance by such courts of jurisdiction and the power of such courts to stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere;

6.1.4 prescription or limitation periods (within which suits, actions or proceedings must be brought);

6.1.5 sanctions implemented or effective in The Netherlands under the Sanctions Xxx 0000 (Sanctiewet 1977), the Economic Offences Act (Wet Economische Delicten), the Import and Export Act (In- en Uitvoerwet) or the FMSA;

in addition, our opinion is subject to and limited by the provisions of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws of general application (including the imposition of Emergency Regulations) relating to or affecting generally the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies from time to time in effect (including the doctrine of voidable preference within the meaning of Section 3:45 of the Netherlands Civil Code and/or Section 42 et.seq. of the Netherlands Bankruptcy Act) and any emergency measures that may be taken by the Dutch Government under the Dutch Financial Relations Emergency Act (Noodwet Financieel Verkeer);

6.2 any enforcement of the Document, the Debt Securities and of any foreign judgments in The Netherlands will be subject to the rules of civil procedure as applied by the courts of The Netherlands; such courts have powers to mitigate the amount of damages, indemnities or penalties provided for in the Document (including any agreed costs payable in respect of litigation or collection) to the extent it regards them as manifestly excessive and, if so requested, to make an award in a foreign currency; such courts may also refuse to give effect to any provision in an agreement which would involve the enforcement of foreign revenue or penal laws; enforcement of a judgement for a sum of money expressed in foreign currency against the Bank's and/or Holding's assets located in The Netherlands would be executed, however, in terms of Euros and the applicable rate of exchange would be that prevailing on the date of payment; service of process for any proceedings before the courts of The Netherlands must be performed in accordance with Netherlands laws of civil procedure; the taking of concurrent proceedings in more than one jurisdiction in which the Judgments Regulation is applicable may - notwithstanding the terms of the Document and the Debt Securities - be precluded by one of the provisions of Section 9 (Related Actions) of that Regulation and the Dutch courts may be obliged to decline jurisdiction as a result thereof; as regards jurisdiction generally, the courts of The Netherlands have powers to stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are brought elsewhere; finally, the ability of any party to assume control over another party's

-12-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

 proceedings before the courts of The Netherlands may be limited by Netherlands rules of civil procedure;

6.3 to the extent that the laws of The Netherlands are applicable:

6.3.1 the provision that the holder of a Debt Security shall be treated as its absolute owner may not be enforceable under all circumstances; and

6.3.2 title to a Debt Security would pass upon delivery (xxxxxxxx within the meaning of Dutch law) thereof, provided that:

(a) the transferor is the owner of the Debt Security with power to pass on title (beschikkingsbevoegd) or may reasonably be held by the transferee to be the owner; and

(b) the transfer is made pursuant to a valid agreement of transfer (geldige titel);

as far as (a) and (b) are concerned, the courts of The Netherlands may apply the laws of another jurisdiction, if questions of title to a Debt Security are submitted to them;

6.4 the concept of "delivery" of a document is not known or required under the laws of The Netherlands to render a document valid, legally binding and enforceable;

6.5 Netherlands substantive law does not have a concept or doctrine identical to the Anglo-American concept of "trust"; nevertheless any trust validly created under its governing law by the Document will be recognised by the courts of The Netherlands in accordance with, and subject to the limitations of, the rules of The Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition;

6.6 all powers of attorney (volmachten) and mandates (lastgevingen) (including, but not limited to, powers of attorney and mandates expressed to be irrevocable) granted and all appointments of agents made by the Bank and/or Holding, explicitly or by implication:

6.6.1 will terminate by law and without notice upon the Bank's and/or Holding's bankruptcy (faillissement) and, unless provided otherwise in the power of attorney, the commencement of legal guardianship over or the bankruptcy of the attorney; and

6.6.2 become ineffective upon the Bank being in a situation which requires Emergency Regulations; to the extent that the appointment by the Bank of a process agent to receive service of process constitutes a power of attorney (volmacht) or a mandate (lastgeving) to the process agent, a service of process on the process agent once declared bankrupt, or (if the laws of The Netherlands are applicable and such power of attorney is capable of

-13-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

being revoked), once the Bank has revoked such appointment, will not be valid against the Bank;

6.7 nothing in this opinion is to be read as a statement that all the procedures of US federal courts (such as, without limitation, the compulsion of witnesses by subpoena) will be available against the Bank and/or Holding;

6.8 in the event that Debt Securities are executed on behalf of the Bank by use of facsimile signatures:

6.8.1 the Bank should approve such use of the relevant signatures and evidence of the Bank's approval may be required for the enforcement of the Debt Securities in The Netherlands; if any of the Debt Securities were executed by attaching thereto or printing thereon the facsimile signature of any person who does not hold office with the issue date of such Debt Securities, or if such Debt Securities are issued on a date on which the person whose signature is attached thereto or printed thereon no longer holds office, it may be necessary for the enforcement of such Debt Securities against the Bank in The Netherlands that the holder of such Debt Securities shall present both such Debt Securities and evidence of the Bank's approval to the Netherlands courts; and

6.8.2 this will only be binding on the Bank (provided such facsimile shows the signatory or signatories mentioned in paragraph ‎5.2.2 above), if such facsimile signature(s) is or are printed or duplicated on such Debt Securities by a person or entity duly authorised on behalf of the Bank and provided that any power of attorney or mandate granted by the Bank in connection with the dating, authentication, effectuation (if applicable), completion and issue of such Debt Securities has not terminated as set out in paragraph ‎6.6 above;

6.9 we have not verified whether the Bank and/or Holding are in compliance with their respective obligations under the FMSA, other than as stated in paragraph 5.1.1 above, nor have we verified that their execution of the Document or the issue of Debt Securities or their respective performance of any of the transactions contemplated thereby do not breach or infringe the FMSA or any of the regulations, directives or guidelines issued pursuant to the FMSA and applicable to the Bank and Holding, and we express no opinion on such matters herein; and

6.10 in issuing this opinion we do not assume any obligation to notify or to inform you of any developments subsequent to its date that might render its contents untrue or inaccurate in whole or in part at such time.

7. RELIANCE

This opinion:

7.1 expresses and describes Netherlands legal concepts in English and not in their original Dutch terms; consequently this opinion is issued and may only be relied upon on the

-14-

C L I F F O R D C H A N C E XXXXXXXX CHANCE LLP ADVOCATEN SOLICITORS NOTARIS BELASTINGADVISEURS

express condition that it shall be governed by and that all words and expressions used herein shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of The Netherlands;

7.2 speaks as of 10:00 hours Netherlands time on the date stated above;

7.3 is addressed to you and is solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon by any other person; and

7.4 is strictly limited to the matters set forth herein and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx

Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxx Chance LLP

-15-