The History of the 'Huissier De Justice' in the Low Countries
ENFORCEMENT AND ENFORCEABILITY: TRADITION AND REFORM, C.H. van Rhee, A. Uzelac, eds., Antwerp: Intersentia, 2010
M-EPLI Working Paper No. 2011/15
21 Pages Posted: 2 Apr 2011
Date Written: March, 30 2011
Abstract
The present paper discusses the history of the huissier de justice (court bailiff or ‘deurwaarder’) in the Netherlands. The author demonstrates that the Dutch huissier has undergone a metamorphosis during the last few centuries. He has changed from a badly educated civil servant with a questionable reputation into a highly educated professional. The reasons underlying this metamorphosis are analysed. Additionally, some of the problems caused as a result of the introduction of market forces in the profession are discussed.
Keywords: Court Bailiff, Huissier de Justice, Legal History, Serving the Summons, Enforcement
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