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New Netherland, New York Genealogy
Life in 16th and 17th Century Amsterdam Holland: Banishment
Banishment in Amsterdam
© Cor Snabel
Except for the "Rasphuis", imprisonment was almost unknown, but a more common punishment for criminals in Amsterdam was banishment. It was considered to be a severe punishment. How banished criminals had to survive outside Amsterdam was something nobody cared about. No wonder they formed gangs, terrorizing the villages and the travelers and they just continued their practices without having to bother about the Schout. The jurisdiction of the Schout (Sheriff) was strictly limited to eleven hundred "roeden" around the city borders. (One hundred Amsterdam roeden was 376 meter) These borders were marked out by "ban-palen", sculptured posts, mostly in the shape of an obelisk. In 1544 Emperor Charles V extended the jurisdiction of Amsterdam till 7420 meters. In Amstelveen, one of the villages near Amsterdam, where I live, we still have a ban-paal. On each side are the arms of Amsterdam, the date 1625 and the text "Terminus Proscriptionis" and "Limit post of the banished". Till 1795 these borders limited the official jurisdiction of Amsterdam magistrates.
Once caught within the city borders, a banished criminal was severely punished, even sentenced to death.
Soon these outlaws were accompanied by a lot of innkeepers, who realized they did not have to pay excise-duties on beer and wine, if they settled just outside the city-borders. These primitive bars were very popular, because liquor was much cheaper than it was in Amsterdam, but the result was an increase of crime. Soon these criminal back streets were a threat to the travelers to and from Amsterdam and for a flourishing trade center it was a disaster. The City Council tried everything to get hold of this situation, but every measure only had a temporary effect. What bothered these magistrates most (they were all traders) was the fact that the city missed a considerable part of their income from the excise-duties.
Every time the city expanded these bars moved with the city borders and till late in the 17th century the City Council had to worry about this unsolved problem.
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