eigenrichtingen

Eigenrichting refers to acts of extrajudicial punishment carried out by private individuals or groups in response to crime or perceived wrongdoing, without involvement of formal authorities or due process. Such actions can take many forms, including threats, interrogation, intimidation, physical assault, property destruction, or lethal violence, and may be motivated by anger, fear, or perceived failures of police protection.

In the Netherlands, as in most modern legal systems, eigenrichting is illegal. Criminal law prohibits taking the law into one's own hands; acts of personal punishment are typically charged as assault, battery, murder, or attempted murder, regardless of motivation. Self-defense is recognized only when proportionate, immediate, and necessary to prevent harm, and it is not the same as vigilante justice.

Historically, in periods when state authority was weak or during conflicts, communities sometimes resorted to self-help, but as modern states strengthened rule of law, these acts became less tolerated and more prosecutable. Still, reports occur in times of social upheaval or perceived injustice, often amplified by misinformation.

Impact: Eigenrichting undermines the rule of law, risks harming innocent people, can escalate violence, and complicates reconciliation and accountability. Law enforcement and judicial reforms, witness protection, and social programs are used to reduce its occurrence by addressing root causes and ensuring trust in formal justice.

Related concepts include vigilantism, mob justice, extrajudicial killing, and the broader principle of the rule of law.