The gift represents a complex phenomenon. It appears as a legal act that lacks consideration, which from an economic standpoint seems rather illogical and poses a threat to the asset interests of third parties, such as heirs or family members of the donor. At the same time, a unilateral donation does not always pursue the altruistic motives that are commonly assumed. This work examines the gift from a comparative legal perspective, particularly investigating how Dutch and German law address the aforementioned complexity. Dutch gift law is of particular interest in this context, as it is likely the most recent gift law in Europe. The focus of the analysis is on the weaknesses in effectiveness that the gift presents in both legal systems.