Another year almost over. A year in which I visited the courts in Maastricht and Roermond many times for De Telegraaf. And I have seen many criminal lawyers at work. Sometimes very good ones, more often mediocrity, but also downright dramas. I don't want to present myself here as the expert, but I do think I can now distinguish the top and upcoming talents from the lesser gods.

Based on my findings and experiences, I have compiled a top 12 of criminal lawyers from Limburg who, for me - at the moment - are among the very best. In other words, which gowns made the most impression with their work in 2013.

1. Françoise Landerloo. Lawyer of the Maastricht office Weening Strafrechtadvocaten who - with a bullet - earned this first place. A criminal lawyer who always gets to grips with a case, possesses a considerable amount of legal knowledge and expresses this in good and clear terms. Sometimes she is fierce, often she is very sharp. A topper in toga in recent years. Rarely, if ever, allows herself to take the cheese off the table. Stunted earlier this year by getting Hub L., suspect in the case of the notorious acid murders in Limburg, acquitted. He had been sentenced to eighteen years in prison. A major achievement.

2. Arthur Vonken. The strength of this great little man is his determination to go all out in every case, no matter how big or small. Well, this will certainly apply to several lawyers, but in the case of "Thuur," as he is often called, this is very striking. He belongs in the absolute top of the Limburg criminal law firm. Always neatly groomed, he assists many well-known suspects/criminals. And with Vonken at your side, you are assured of a very adequate defense. Not for nothing does he run one of the best criminal law firms in the deep South.

3. Serge Weening. In recent years built up a top office - with the aforementioned Landerloo and some talent here and there - in the posh part of Maastricht. Is increasingly active above the rivers and occasionally achieves nice successes there. Weening, the big bald man in toga, has focused, among other things, on so-called terrorism suspects. He has a lot of knowledge about this and knows how to explain it to the outside world. He works his ass off, I know. No lack of diligence, a lawyer of relatively young age who has a bright future ahead of him between judges and prosecutors.

4. Peer Szymkowiak. The interesting thing about this lawyer, also based in Maastricht, is his performance. Self-assured and sometimes stoic (whether played or not), he often manages to convince the judges that he is right. This criminal lawyer also has the necessary legal knowledge and, as I often hear, is considered one of the better lawyers in Limburg. I couldn't agree more. He is not an old man yet either, so his clients will be able to enjoy him for a long time to come.

5. Marcel Heuvelmans. Let me clarify it this way: when in the North of Limburg a suspect in a big case is arrested, that person is often assisted by this lawyer from Venlo. I understand that very well. Heuvelmans is eloquent, but above all a real terrier who will not let anyone lead him astray. You can't fool this tall 'toga'.

6. Sjoerd van Berge Henegouwen. An experienced rock in the profession. Has a fine office with two good lawyers, close to Maastricht city hall. VBH will be a good teacher for them, because he is legally very strong. Audibly knows his stuff and is active all over the country for a reason. A funny thing about him is that he sometimes likes to make a 'show' á la Perry Mason. Or something like that, anyway. The audience can judge how they deal with this. However, it is not really disturbing because Van Berge Henegouwen simply does not talk nonsense in the courtroom.

7. Marijn Zuketto. Not seen too much at work this year, but has impressed all the more for that. Formulates calmly and certainly belongs in this top. Is, among other things, lawyer of Ricardo Offermanns, former mayor of Meerssen. The latter was allegedly in the wrong in the well-known matter of former alderman and member of the Senate, Jos van Rey. Zuketto will undoubtedly do his job for the ex-mayor very competently. He is known for that.

8. Wouter Smeets. The first coming man in this top 12. Worked for the above-mentioned criminal lawyer for some time and started his own firm a good year ago. With success. I am not really surprised about that. Smeets is very eloquent, has a well-filled legal head and what he says usually hits the nail on the head. A fine lawyer to listen to as a journalist. Sometimes in for a joke, but he is there when he needs to be. Watch his name the next time, I would say.

9. Ivo van de Bergh. I got to know this lawyer years ago when he worked at a small firm in Hoensbroek, Limburg. I immediately noticed that he was a streamer, which appealed to me. He wanted to advance noticeably in the following years. And higher up. Now, more people want that, but in his case I felt this ambition was justified. Van de Bergh went like a train, stagnated for a while through no fault of his own, but is now making good progress. His knowledge is good. He is increasingly knocking on the door of the "big boys. However, this thirty-something still has plenty of time.

10. Letty Schyns. This criminal lawyer is getting there. Not so long ago I saw her at work in a murder case before the Maastricht District Court. Although it was 'only' a so-called pro forma hearing, she delivered a story that was very well substantiated. With accompanying passion and doggedness, she finally managed to convince the judges. Result: her client was released. She even laughed briefly for joy, I saw. Understandably so, it was a fine performance. Schyns works at Welvaart & Zuketto in Maastricht, where she will certainly learn a lot. She can now count herself among the better talents.

11. Jo Marchal. Presentation: just over 0. Legal knowledge: 10. That is Jo Marchal all over. This slightly older criminal lawyer is a kind of walking law book. Often wearing an old-fashioned bow tie and a somewhat sullen look, he saunters through the court. He is not an amusing type. Nor, I think, does he care. Marchal can really be a louse for the prosecution, as I have noticed in the mega fraud case against Joep J. In this case he assisted the so-called star witness Pascal H. Amazing what the old man in a toga managed to get out of the fire for him.

12. I do not put names here. There will undoubtedly be other good criminal lawyers, but I have not yet seen them at work, or not enough. What is not can still come. In 2014. I already have some names in mind anyway.