This symposium explores the history, function, and legacy of commons, especially in the Dutch context. It examines how commons operated historically, their institutional mechanisms, and their relevance today.

Professor Tine De Moor’s will give a lecture, focusing on the renewed interest in commons as alternatives to state and market governance. She critically assesses how historical knowledge about commons is often used uncritically or inconsistently in modern discourse. Her talk asks: What can we truly learn from historical commons? Which mechanisms ensured their sustainability? And how do they compare to other forms of collective organization in the past?

This event will be in Dutch.