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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

In international law, occupation is differentiated from annexation. An occupying power holds temporary authority under specific

In contemporary Dutch usage, bezetters can also refer more loosely to individuals who occupy property or space

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.
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.
outside
a
military
context,
such
as
during
protests
or
housing
occupations.
This
sense
is
context-dependent
and
may
carry
political
connotations
depending
on
circumstances.