From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adriaan van Campen
Adriaan van Campen (Baarle-Nassau, 1746 – Breda, April 17, 1787) was an 18th-century Dutch criminal.
Van Campen was known as the 'Terror of the Barony' and was infamous for his extortion practices. When he did not get money, he set his victim's belongings on fire. One of his methods of intimidating his victims was speaking in plurals. As a result, people thought that there was not one person, but a complete gang of robbers at the door. The local expression is due to this: "Here we are," said Van Campen, and he was alone.
He was brutally put to death in front of the people who had gathered on the Grote Markt in front of the town hall to watch the terrifying spectacle. First his hand was cut off, after which he was broken into a wheel. Finally, the criminal was beheaded.
The severe punishment that Van Campen received was also unusual for that time. They wanted to set an example and although Adriaan van Campen had been active as a criminal for a long time, he had no murder on his conscience. Moreover, he had confessed to his crimes. Bystanders were stunned by the brutality of the execution.
The sword with which Van Campen was executed has been preserved and is in the collection of the Breda Museum.
He was the last resident of the Netherlands to be killed by the sword.