Artus Quellinus - Paleis-op-de-Dam vierschaar

A Vierschaar is a historical term for a

tribunal A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title. For example, an advocate who appears before a court with a single ...

in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Before the separation of lawmaking, law enforcement, and justice duties, the government of every town was administered by a senate (called a ''Wethouderschap'') formed of two, three, or sometimes four burgomasters, and a certain number of sheriffs (called ''Schepenen''), so that the number of sitting judges was generally seven. The term ''Vierschaar'' means literally "foursquare", so called from the four-square dimensions of the benches in use by the sitting judges. The four benches for the judges were placed in a square with the defendant in the middle. This area was roped off and the term vierschaar refers to the ropes. The Dutch expression "vierschaar spannen" refers to the tightening or raising of these ropes before the proceedings could begin. (Accompanied by the question whether the sun is high enough, 'hoog genoeg op de dag', since the practice stems from the Middle Ages when these trials were held outdoors.) Most towns had the Vierschaar privilege to hear their own disputes, and the meeting room used for this was usually located in the town hall. Many historic town halls still have such a room, usually decorated with scenes from the

Judgment of Solomon The Judgement of Solomon is a story from the Hebrew Bible in which Solomon ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. Solomon revealed their true feelings and relationship to the child by suggesting the baby be cut in two ...

. {{Commons category, Vierschaar

References

The history of Holland and the Dutch nation: from the beginning of the tenth century to the end of the eighteenth
page 77, By Charles Maurice Davies, Volume 1, London, 1851 Tribunals Local government in the Netherlands Dutch words and phrases Dutch Republic