Late medieval marquisates
Circa 1200 to 1800
Around the 13th century, market cooperatives were founded in Twente and elsewhere. These were co-operatives between the owners of farms. Together, they made clear agreements on the use and administration of the land within the boundaries of the march. The structure of the marches can often still be derived from field names.
Large unenclosed arable areas are created around the populated core area. The farmers often live on the edge of the Esch/es and use small enclosed areas (of reclaimed land) as hay meadows and pasture. The areas behind them are common land. Heathland is used as pasture and for ploughing. The plaggen (cut-out pieces of topsoil) are used as mattress bedding, which remains in the barn for a certain period of time and is then used to fertilise the Esch/es. Peat from the moor is used as fuel and wood is felled in the coppice forests. At the beginning of the 19th century, the communal areas become private property (marsh divisions).
