Dutch term – Oorkonde

An oorkonde is a charter; a record with seals hanging from the bottom. In the Middle Ages, most transactions went unrecorded, but the ones that were, were recorded in charters. Oorkondes are usually written on vellum or parchment, made from animal skin. With theĀ invention of paper made from rags, charters went out of style although they continued to be used for special occasions, like nobility titles are records of abdication. You can find medieval charters in the archives of old towns … [Read more...]