poortrecht

Poortrecht is a historical Dutch term referring to a toll or tax levied on goods passing through a city gate or over a bridge. This practice was common in medieval and early modern times as a way for towns and cities to generate revenue. The poortrecht could be a fixed sum or a percentage of the value of the goods. It was often applied to various commodities, including food, livestock, and manufactured items.

The collection of poortrecht typically took place at designated toll houses located at the entrances to cities. Toll collectors, often employed by the city council or a lord, would assess the goods and collect the appropriate fee. This revenue was vital for maintaining city infrastructure, paying for defenses, and funding public works. However, poortrecht could also be a burden on merchants and consumers, potentially increasing the cost of goods and hindering trade.

The specific rates and regulations surrounding poortrecht varied significantly from one town to another and could change over time due to economic conditions or political decisions. Over centuries, as trade became more centralized and national economies developed, the system of local tolls like poortrecht gradually declined, being replaced by more standardized forms of taxation. The concept of a gate toll is still present in modern road tolls, but the historical poortrecht was a more multifaceted and localized system tied to urban administration.