City Dwellers

Local trade, artisanal trades and industry provided enough employment in the cities, and in wartime the city walls offered protection. But there were downsides, too, because industrial pollution and the absence of proper sanitation meant living in the city was unhealthy, particularly in summertime. What’s more, the city gates were closed after the sounding of the curfew bells – so you needed to be on the alert if you were planning to leave or enter the city. Membership of a guild was essential if you wanted to practice certain trades, and you needed to be an officially recognised citizen (poorter, derived from the Dutch for ‘city gate’) to join a guild or take up an administrative position. Many city administrations would offer citizenship (poorterschap) free of charge to attract skilled tradespeople.