The paradox of the Marks. The exploitation of commons in the eastern Netherlands, 1250-1850 (Chaloner Memorial Lecture)

The paper presents a survey of the development of the markengenootschappen, the institutions which governed the exploitation of the commons in the eas tern Netherlands between 1250 and 1850. It deals with the principles which governed the management of the commons, relates these to the 'moral economy ' of the peasants, and addresses the question of whether the marks were abl e to prevent their overexploitation. Finally, the division of the marks and the enclosure of the commons in the nineteenth century is described.