Vroedschap
The Vroedschap was the name for the magistrate in the early modern Netherlands : one member of such magistrates was called Vroedman, literally a "wise man". An honorary title of the Vroedschap was "Vroede vaderen", the "wise fathers".
history
Most modern Dutch cities were ruled by a government of male citizens who had city rights ( called poorters ), who were members of the ruling class or elite. In the late Middle Ages, these patricians had gradually managed to exclude the craftsmen from membership in all cities and thus make themselves a hereditary city nobility . In the then Dutch Republic , the city administration consisted of the Magistrate and the Vroedschap . The magistrate (or city administration) consisted of a number (usually four) mayors , who were assisted by a number of councilors (" Schepen ") and who ran the day-to-day business of the city administration. In most cities the mayors were appointed for a period of four years. The previous (and usually the youngest) mayor was responsible for the “Schutterij”, the vigilante group . The Vroedschap appointed the magistrate, mostly from his own ranks; sometimes other members of the ruling class were proposed. There was a complicated system of drawing lots and in many cities shortlisted lists were drawn up from which the Orange Governor , the highest provincial government official, could choose. In 1748, at the end of the second period without governor , this became the universal electoral system in the Dutch Republic.
The Vroedschap was convened on financial issues, sometimes on national political issues, and always for elections for the appointment of important local posts. The Vroedschap mainly served economic interests in which its members played an important role. In contrast to the magistrates, the "Vroedschapsleden" (members of the city administration ) were appointed for life. The council consisted of ten to 14 citizens who met weekly or less. They appointed one or two new mayors and representatives for the provinces each January.
The membership was in principle a question of "Uitverkiezing" (additional election) and inheritance. Family ties were very important, but so were good upbringing and social status. The “Vroedmannen” had to meet two conditions: membership in the Calvinist Church and ownership of a house. Although city administrations were more of an oligarchy than a meritocracy by today's standards , family ties were never a legal basis for an election.
In times of crisis, the governor appointed new Vroedschapsleden as the highest provincial government official to ensure that the Oran supporters came to power. This process, which was not carried out on any legal basis, was called wetsverzetting (change of legislature). One such took place in Amsterdam in 1619, after the overthrow of Johan von Oldenbarnevelt , in 1672, the Rampjaar , in 1748, the end of the second period without governor , and in 1787 after the entry of the Prussians and the defeat of the Dutch patriot movement .
See also
literature
- Johan E. Elias: De vroedschap van Amsterdam 1578 - 1795 . 2 volumes. Amsterdam, Israel 1963, add. CLXXVII, 1410 S., Ln.
- PHJ van der Laan, R. Bessem (Ed.): Resoluties van de vroedschap van Amsterdam. 1551–1565 (= Publicaties van het Stadsarchief Amsterdam. Vol. 28). Lost, Hilversum 2008, ISBN 978-90-6550-993-2 .