معرفی
Professor Leon Verstappen is a distinguished academic specializing in Private Law, particularly Notarial Law, at the Faculty of Law, University of Groningen. He has held this professorship since December 1, 1998, working at 0.8 full-time equivalent. His career includes significant leadership roles as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2006-2010) and twice as Head of the Department of Private and Notarial Law (2001-2004 and 2016-2020). Verstappen maintains active connections with legal practice as a deputy judge at the Court of Appeal in The Hague (since 2014) and as a legal advisor at Hekkelman Lawyers and Notaries.
Verstappen's research interests span Private Law with specialization in Family Property Law, Inheritance Law, Company Law, and Real Estate Law, along with the regulation of notaries. His international work focuses on land rights issues, particularly expropriation and land governance. He has initiated or co-founded numerous initiatives including the Groningen Centre for Law and Governance, Netherlands Institute for Law and Governance, and the globally recognized Land Portal (www.landportal.org).
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contemporary legal challenges including digital inheritance, expropriation law for climate justice, legitimate portions in inheritance law, and the evolving regulatory framework for notarial practice. His work consistently bridges academic theory with practical legal application.
- Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2024)
- Best Notarial Lawyer of the Netherlands (2009)
- Honorary member of Vevonos (2022)
- Honorary member of Nota Bene (1998)
Professor Verstappen has supervised 22 completed PhD projects and currently guides 10 ongoing doctoral candidates. His editorial work includes leadership roles for Practical Manuals for Notaries, Family & Law journal, and multiple book series through the Netherlands Institute for Law and Governance. His research has been supported by various grants, including the WODC research project on legitimate portions in inheritance law (2023).
Verstappen leads the Land Portal Foundation and participates in international networks focused on land governance, expropriation, and family law. His work with the Research Foundation Flanders (RETHINKIN_) and the European Law Institute demonstrates his commitment to advancing legal knowledge through international collaboration.
