Wijkboeken
Item
Country
BE
Name of institution (English)
FelixArchief (Antwerp City Archives)
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Oudeleeuwenrui 29, 2000 Antwerpen
Contact information: phone number
0032 33389411
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadsarchief@antwerpen.be
Reference number
BE SA 176948
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
District Books
Title (official language of the state)
Wijkboeken
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
Schepenenbank (Court of Aldermen)
Date(s)
1601/1797
Language(s)
dut
spa
Extent
113 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Wijkboeken collection is part of the Vrijwillige rechtspraak: archief van de schepenbank (Voluntary justice: archives of the aldermen's court) fonds and it comprises documentation concerning transactions of real estate within the city of Antwerp. These documents were produced by the Schepenbank (Court of Aldermen), a court with judicial and administrative jurisdiction over the transaction and shipping of properties.
In the 16th century, Antwerp was the home of an important community of New Christian merchants involved in maritime trade and shipping activities. Based on this collection, Florbela Veiga Frade (2006, 383-386) published a list of real estate properties pertaining to Portuguese merchants in Antwerp, which included information regarding the respective owners, the type of building, and the street where it was located. Among the 120 properties owned by Sephardic families, there were, for instance, many that belonged to the Ximenes family (Duarte, Manuel, Gonçalo, and Fernando Ximenes) or a list of seventeen properties owned by Fernando Rodrigues de Almada in different streets of Antwerp.
In the 16th century, Antwerp was the home of an important community of New Christian merchants involved in maritime trade and shipping activities. Based on this collection, Florbela Veiga Frade (2006, 383-386) published a list of real estate properties pertaining to Portuguese merchants in Antwerp, which included information regarding the respective owners, the type of building, and the street where it was located. Among the 120 properties owned by Sephardic families, there were, for instance, many that belonged to the Ximenes family (Duarte, Manuel, Gonçalo, and Fernando Ximenes) or a list of seventeen properties owned by Fernando Rodrigues de Almada in different streets of Antwerp.
Archival history
In the 13th century, the city of Antwerp kept its documents in the Town Hal, in a chest about two meters long, named "privilegiekom". The chest had 13 locks, whose keys were distributed among the city officials, and it could only be opened with the 13 keys. The development of the city and the growing complexity of its administration resulted in an increase in the number of documents. Therefore, the "privilegiekom" became too small to store all records.
Prior to the French Revolution, the various city institutions headquartered in the Town Hall had the responsibility of keeping their own documents. However, in 1796, a city archivist was appointed to preserve and manage the archives. The city archive remained in the Town Hall until the first half of the 20th century. After that, the archive was moved to several different locations. During World War II, the most valuable documents were secured in a castle near Rochefort. In 1953, the archive was temporarily accommodated at Meirbrug. At last, on December 15, 1956, a new place in Venusstraat was inaugurated, and the city archives remained there for about 50 years. In 2006, the archive moved to the Sint-Felixpakhuis. Since then, it has been called the FelixArchief.
Prior to the French Revolution, the various city institutions headquartered in the Town Hall had the responsibility of keeping their own documents. However, in 1796, a city archivist was appointed to preserve and manage the archives. The city archive remained in the Town Hall until the first half of the 20th century. After that, the archive was moved to several different locations. During World War II, the most valuable documents were secured in a castle near Rochefort. In 1953, the archive was temporarily accommodated at Meirbrug. At last, on December 15, 1956, a new place in Venusstraat was inaugurated, and the city archives remained there for about 50 years. In 2006, the archive moved to the Sint-Felixpakhuis. Since then, it has been called the FelixArchief.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Schepenbank (Court of the Aldermen) was a court usually composed of seven members appointed by the "heer" (lord), under the chairmanship of the "schout" (sheriff), "drossaard" (landdrost) or "meier" (mayor), as the lord's representative. In some cities, as Antwerp, there were "dubbelheerlijkheden" (double lordships), whereby the lordship was divided between two lords, who often jointly appointed the members of the Schepenbank.
The presence of all "schepenen" (aldermen) was only required when pronouncing sentences in criminal cases. For other court hearings, the presence of five or two "schepenen" was sufficient.
That was the case of the Vrijwillige Rechtspraak (Voluntary Justice), which only demanded the presence of two "schepenen". It consisted of matters such as the registration of transfers of ownership, interest transactions, inheritances, etc. The "schepenen" also acted as guardians of orphans, and of mentally disabled or incapacitated people, and acted as protectors of their heritage and interests. They were also responsible for collecting the "belasting" (tax). For this specific task, they were assisted by "bedezetters" (tax officials) and "burgemeesters" (burgomasters).
The presence of all "schepenen" (aldermen) was only required when pronouncing sentences in criminal cases. For other court hearings, the presence of five or two "schepenen" was sufficient.
That was the case of the Vrijwillige Rechtspraak (Voluntary Justice), which only demanded the presence of two "schepenen". It consisted of matters such as the registration of transfers of ownership, interest transactions, inheritances, etc. The "schepenen" also acted as guardians of orphans, and of mentally disabled or incapacitated people, and acted as protectors of their heritage and interests. They were also responsible for collecting the "belasting" (tax). For this specific task, they were assisted by "bedezetters" (tax officials) and "burgemeesters" (burgomasters).
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| FelixArchief (Stadsarchief Antwerpen) | Collections (official language of the state) |