Marco Borsato asks for 391,000 euros in legal fees back from the Dutch state, how is that arranged in Belgium?

Dutch singer Marco Borsato is requesting €391,000 from the Dutch state for legal fees incurred during his defense in a case where he was acquitted. In the Netherlands, acquitted individuals can claim reimbursement for defense costs, including attorney fees and expert expenses. Borsato was acquitted on December 4, 2026, after a lengthy legal process that began with a complaint in December 2021. The Dutch government disputes part of the claim, leading to a court case in Utrecht. In contrast, Belgium does not have a similar reimbursement system; acquitted individuals must cover their own legal costs. Belgium has a legal costs compensation system that operates differently, focusing on costs between parties rather than against the state. Victims can claim costs if they initiate a civil case and the defendant is acquitted, but these are fixed amounts, not actual expenses. Additionally, there is compensation for wrongful imprisonment in Belgium.