[Plague in southern Netherlands during the Middle Ages and modern times. Complaint about the status of the disease in its socioeconomic context].

In this contribution the latest insights with regard to the demographic impact of plague in the Netherlands are discussed, although is remains difficult to clearly distinguish this factor from other causes of mortality. When, how and why did the plague reappear in Europe after several centuries of absence to become endemic for the next three centuries? When and why did it disappear in Western Europe in the seventeenth century? The first epidemics of plague probably were not as catastrophic in the Netherlands as they were in many other parts of Europe, which is remarkable since the Netherlands was, together with Northern Italy, the most populous region of Europe. The explanation is to be found in the general socioeconomic context, that was in many regards better than in the neighbouring regions. The 'crisis of the late Middle Ages' was not as deep in the Netherlands as elsewhere: a relationship demography--economy is therefore probable. Nevertheless, mortality was high, partly because of plague, but also because of other diseases--for which the common term pestilentia was in use. Some unique statistical data for Flanders illustrate this mortality from the late Middle Ages onward. The succession of mortality leading to a high average mortality rate was more important than accidental mortality, that could have a spectacular but often not long-lasting impact.