The medieval burgher books of Oudenaarde and Pamele no. 17

These exceptionally well-preserved burgher books contain the registration of the city’s burghers. Only these burghers were fully protected by the rights and privileges associated with the city. The oldest burgher book of Oudenaarde includes entries dating back to 1276. In the oldest preserved burgher book of Pamele, the earliest entries are from 1319. This is unique for Flanders (for example, Ghent and Bruges have burgher books starting from the 15th century, Geraardsbergen from 1396, and Kortrijk from 1398). The burgher books of Oudenaarde provide insight into the development of a city from the end of the 13th century, thus a century earlier than other cities. Researchers find data to analyse population flows or migration and to determine the rhythm of population growth for a period that is not or scarcely documented for other cities. These burgher books therefore have a benchmark value. They also offer insight into the functioning of a small Flemish city, where the role of outer burghers, who lived in the surrounding countryside, was proportionally much larger than in the larger cities, such as Ghent and Bruges.