Constantijn Kortmann, Dutch legal scholar, Died at 71

Constantinus Albertus Josephus Maria was born on March 14, 1944, in Groesbeek and died on January 24, 2016, in Heilig Landstichting.

He was a Dutch professor of constitutional law.

In 1967, Constantijn Kortmann earned his doctoral’s degree in Dutch Law at the Catholic University of Nijmegen (nowadays: Radboud University).

Constantijn Kortmann studied the French language for half a year at the Institut Catholique in Paris, France, in 1964,

When he completed his studies, he pursued his study of the French language, as well as French public law, for another year at the University of Poitiers.

In 1976, Kortmann scored his doctor’s degree (master) at the Catholic University of Nijmegen.

From 1976 to 1981, Kortmann was a professor of Dutch and comparative constitutional law at the University of Amsterdam, since 1981 he has been a professor of constitutional law and general political science.

Moreover, Constantijn has been a dean of the Faculty of Law, twice in Nijmegen and once in Amsterdam.

Constantijn became a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in 2000.

In 2004, the KNAW labeled him with an academy professorship.

For the Constitutional Law, The handbook Constitutioneel Recht, Kortmann received the Thorkbecke Prize in 1996,
The latter two books were edited by Kortmann in cooperation with professor Lucas Prakke.9

In 2005, the second chamber of the Dutch parliament named Kortmann to be the chairman of the referendum committee on the rejected Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

This committee summarised the Treaty text and divided allowances between the advocates and adversaries of the Treaty.

Mr. Kortmann’s brother, Sebastiaan Kortmann, is a professor of Dutch civil law, and since May 10, 2007, the Rector Magnificus of the Radboud University Nijmegen.

Minister Kortmann was invited regularly to give advice and explanation in matters of public law in Dutch media.

Constantijn Kortmann passed away at 71 yrs old.