Bezetters

Bezetters is the Dutch term for occupants, typically referring to individuals, groups, or states that occupy territory or space by force, or who hold a position or property by force. The word stems from bezetten, meaning to occupy or seize. In discussions of territory and sovereignty, bezetter denotes an occupying power — the actor that exercises control over land that remains legally owned by another state or authority.

Historically, bezetters are most closely associated with military occupations. A prominent example is the German occupation of the Netherlands, Belgium and other parts of Europe during World War II. After the war, Allied powers conducted occupations in Germany and Austria to administer, denazify, demilitarize, and rebuild. Occupation can involve the exercise of administrative authority, maintenance of public order, and provision of basic services, while sovereignty typically remains with the occupied state or its government-in-exile.

In international law, occupation is differentiated from annexation. An occupying power holds temporary authority under specific rules intended to protect civilians and preserve the occupied state's legal framework. The Hague Conventions and the Fourth Geneva Convention outline duties and limitations for occupying authorities, including the protection of civilians, respect for human rights, and the management of property and resources.

In contemporary Dutch usage, bezetters can also refer more loosely to individuals who occupy property or space outside a military context, such as during protests or housing occupations. This sense is context-dependent and may carry political connotations depending on circumstances.