Ruilverkaveling means to trade plots of land to consolidate land ownership. At the beginning of the 20th century, land ownership was fragmented. Larger plots were easier to work with machines. As mechanization of agriculture increased, so did the demand to consolidate the small plots in larger plots. The first ruilverkaveling took place on the island of Ameland in 1916. Generations of estate divisions among several heirs had resulted in tiny plots. In one part of Ameland, 119 owners owned … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Cadastral records don’t always show the current owner
29 May 2019 by Leave a Comment
In cadastral records, you may encounter the situation where your ancestor appears as owner of real estate long after his death. This happens if the estate remains undivided, for example if there is a surviving spouse. Sometimes, the cadastral records are corrected to show the heirs, but sometimes the deceased owner remains on the books. See the article about Laurens Smulders for an example. … [Read more...]
