In Loco Parentis: Holland’s orphan chambers in a European context

Abstract

Various well-known forms of safeguards for life-cycle risks have been described extensively for the early modern era. In this paper I want to draw attention to one specific and often underrated one, the risk of being orphaned at a young age, and the changing social arrangements covering the consequences. The mortality pattern of European cities translated into high numbers of young orphans. Most of them did not need the physical care provided by orphanages and were taken in by family or friends. However, some of them needed assistance to safeguard assets they had inherited from their parents. All over Western Europe, institutions emerged to act in loco parentis, and supervise guardians and secure the transfer of inheritances. Through our analysis of Holland’s orphan chambers in a European context, we highlight the importance of a hitherto neglected aspect, namely the dynamics of urban growth and migration. In that way, we aim to provide a more profound understanding of the precise functions, and the rise and decline of these remarkable institutions and show their importance as welfare arrangements.