Back in the Middle Ages, cities in the Netherlands could get monopoly rights on certain goods.
In the middle ages the Dutch could obtain rights that would give them a monopoly on certain goods like cheese
I love the taste of Gouda cheese. Is that so? It's a mild cheese from Gouda, in the Netherlands. I eat it usually on the weekends with wine. Oh, nice. It's actually one of the world's most popular cheeses. That does not surprise me. The first mention of Gouda cheese was is 1184! Gouda cheese The cheese itself is named after a Dutch city. How did that happen?
In the Middle Ages, Dutch cities could obtain certain feudal rights which gave them primacy or a total monopoly on certain goods.