"Order in the hall! The bench of aldermen is meeting. Are you quarreling with your neighbors or has someone stolen something from you? Present your case to the aldermen and they will administer justice."
Between 1362 and 1795, members of the aldermen's court were responsible for administering justice in Leuven and the surrounding area. They ruled on matters such as neighborly quarrels, theft and murder. All their verdicts were recorded in the 1128 aldermen's court registers. Together they accounted for 950,000 pages, making them one of the most extensive sources in the city archives!
In this performance, we bring you inside the world of the aldermen's court. Take a seat and help decide the court cases that are presented. Afterwards, you can view the meter-long registers in the archive depot.
Speak well and straight!
This performance was developed on behalf of Erfgoedcel Leuven and was first performed during the Leuven Red Dog theater festival in 2019.
Recommended as a school performance!