Godsdienstvrede in Eindhoven en de vrijheid van de ambachtsgilden

Samenvatting

In this paper, the author describes the history of a conflict between the Catholic and the Reformed members of the local government of the town of Eindhoven in Northern Brabant in the early eighteenth century. By the Treaty of Münster in 1648, North Brabant became a generality land, where policy was determined by the States General and the ‘Raad van State’. All Roman Catholic church buildings were transferred to the local Reformed congregations and the government officials should now be members of the Reformed Church. However, since the Reformed congregations were, generally speaking, very small, not enough Reformed people were available, so that also Catholics had to take part in the local governments. In Eindhoven, there existed a good relationship between Catholic and Reformed government members. A representation of the five artisan guilds also had a place in the local government. The masters of the guilds elected the representatives, who then were nominated for appointment by the lord of Eindhoven. When the lord was still a minor, he was represented by his mother, the princess. As only about 4 percent of the population was Reformed, the representatives were usually Catholics. In 1715, the civic magistrates (aldermen) decided to change the nomination by the guilds from five Catholics to three Reformed and two Catholic persons, bypassing the guilds’ rights. The nominated candidates were then appointed by the princess. This was the beginning of a severe conflict between the Reformed magistrates and the four Catholic members of the government, of which the two burgomasters were responsible for all financial matters. The Catholic members refused to take part in the government and went on strike, which was very harmful for the financial 
policy. They also incited the population to boycott Reformed shopkeepers. The conflict was resolved in 1717 by the guilds that nominated only Catholics.

This nomination was approved by the princess and the magistrates had no choice but to accept this decision. After some time, the religious peace was restored in Eindhoven.