meierijen
Meierijen refers to the historical administrative and often fiscal divisions within the Low Countries, particularly prominent in the Duchy of Brabant and the County of Holland. These units were typically centered around a fortified farm or estate, known as a "meierij," which served as the administrative hub and often the residence of a royal or noble official. The term itself derives from the Old Dutch word "meiereie," meaning "domain" or "jurisdiction."
These meierijen were not merely agricultural estates but also encompassed a certain territory and had judicial
In Brabant, the Meierij of 's-Hertogenbosch was a particularly significant and large meierij, eventually becoming one