To pronounce death sentences, the (Dutch) Bailiff & Aldermen assem-
bled in the so-called Vierschaar. In Amsterdam the Vierschaar was sea-
ted in the City Hall (today: the Royal Palace) and the in De Dam assem-
bled audience could follow the lawsuit from behind the bronze bars at
the right. The function of the hall was strictly ceremonial;  the actual
lawsuit and conviction took place elsewhere in the building.

Several attempts of genealogical / heraldical fraud reached us.

In The Netherlands the so-called Stichting Genealogie Nederland (Dutch Genealogical
Foundation) offers at a regularly basis Surname Chronicles, including a Coat of Arms.
This organisation does NOT exist and subscribers will receive nothing -but loose their
money. Click here for an example of the used (circular) letter; here for a newspaper
article.

Another -more original- one, is a (circular) e-mail of a so-called notary who is despe-
rately searching for relatives of his deceased (but rich!) client. Click here for an exam-
ple (several variants are known).

Please contact us in case you receive an offer for a (commercial) Berkhof(f) Genea-
logy and /or Coat of Arms and you are not sure if the offer is swindle.