verbeurd

Verbeurd is a Dutch legal term meaning that specific property or assets are forfeited to the state as a consequence of criminal activity. The designation indicates that the item is treated as the product, instrument, or unlawful profit of a crime, leading to a loss of ownership rights for the person involved. In Dutch law, verbeurd is typically established through a formal decision called a verbeurdverklaring, whereby a court declares the assets forfeit.

The decision follows a procedural path that may involve prior measures such as beslag (seizure) and requires a court assessment of the link between the property and criminal activity. The outcome is that the specified goods, money, or other assets become the property of the state or a designated authority, and the owner loses its rights to them. The scope can cover tangible assets like vehicles, real estate, cash, and goods, as well as proceeds or profits derived from crime, and sometimes instruments used in wrongdoing.

Verbeurdverklaring is part of broader asset-recovery tools in Dutch law. It sits alongside other measures such as seizure and fines and is primarily aimed at depriving criminals of the gains from illegal activity and deterring crime. The procedure includes safeguards and opportunities to challenge the decision, reflecting a balance between property rights and public interest.

In practice, verbeurd is used in various crime areas, including drug offenses, fraud, organized crime, and tax-related offenses. The concept of forfeiture underscores the emphasis in Dutch law on financial deterrence and the removal of criminal incentives by stripping illicit assets from their owners.