new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/nl/cwi/monetdb/mcl/MCLException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0.  If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ *
+ * Copyright 1997 - July 2008 CWI, August 2008 - 2016 MonetDB B.V.
+ */
+
+package nl.cwi.monetdb.mcl;
+
+/**
+ * A general purpose Exception class for MCL related problems.  This
+ * class should be used if no more precise Exception class exists.
+ */
+public class MCLException extends Exception {
+	/**
+	 * 
+	 */
+	private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+	public MCLException(String e) {
+		super(e);
+	}
+}