Stadsbestuur betreffende de ambachten
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 Antwerp
Contact information: phone number
0032 33389411
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadsarchief@antwerpen.be
Reference number
BE SA 61773
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
City council concerning the crafts
Title (official language of the state)
Stadsbestuur betreffende de ambachten
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
Stadsbestuur
Date(s)
1327/1793
Language(s)
dut
Extent
18 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Stadsbestuur betreffende de ambachten fonds comprises documentation produced by the Antwerp City Council, concerning crafts and industries of the city, including documentation on their relevant activity and information on taxes and sales.
Part of this collection is the "Ambachtsboeken" (craft books), which contain a few records concerning Portuguese New Christians and their settlement in Antwerp. For instance, Ambachten Boek 1430-1561 (BE SA 61782) contains information on the privileges obtained by the New Christians of Portuguese origin in Antwerp. Among other things, they were given the right to freely assemble and hold their councils and their tribunals in their "Feitoria" (trading post) as long as the nation resided in Antwerp. A special privilege was granted at the request of Tomé Lopes on November 20, 1511, exempting the Portuguese from excise duties on wine and beer up to a limit of eight barrels of wine and forty barrels of beer (fol. 146).
Part of this collection is the "Ambachtsboeken" (craft books), which contain a few records concerning Portuguese New Christians and their settlement in Antwerp. For instance, Ambachten Boek 1430-1561 (BE SA 61782) contains information on the privileges obtained by the New Christians of Portuguese origin in Antwerp. Among other things, they were given the right to freely assemble and hold their councils and their tribunals in their "Feitoria" (trading post) as long as the nation resided in Antwerp. A special privilege was granted at the request of Tomé Lopes on November 20, 1511, exempting the Portuguese from excise duties on wine and beer up to a limit of eight barrels of wine and forty barrels of beer (fol. 146).
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.
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, such 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 dealt with 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 dealt with 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
The collection is organised by document type.
Access, restrictions
Unrestricted
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) |