Learn Dutch: We hadden lang gespeurd om deze plaat te bemachtigen. - We had searched for a long time to acquire this record.

Both mean to search or look for, but speuren implies a more intense, dedicated kind of searching. It is often used for tracking, investigating, or hunting down something rare. Since they are trying to find a specific, elusive record, speuren adds a descriptive nuance that zoeken lacks.

What exactly does bemachtigen mean, and how is it built?

Bemachtigen means to get hold of or to acquire something, usually after some effort. It is built from the noun macht (power). The prefix be- turns it into an action of bringing something into your possession or power. It is perfect for describing the acquisition of a rare collector's item!

Is the word om strictly necessary in the om ... te construction here?

Technically, when expressing a purpose or goal (in order to), the word om is optional in Dutch, so you could just say ... deze plaat te bemachtigen. However, including om is extremely common and natural because it clearly signals the purpose right away. At a B2 level, it is best to keep using om.

Does plaat always mean a music record?