The Dutch medieval culinary tradition in writing is relatively young. There are three manuscripts, or to be exact, two manuscripts and one convolute containing four manuscripts (the last text only medicinal recipes), that all date from the end of the fifteenth century at the earliest. All texts are kept in the Belgian city Gent, the two manuscripts UB 476 and UB 1035 in the University Library, the convolute KANTL 15 in the Royal Academy of Dutch Language and Literature.
Of these cookery books, only UB 476 is relatively easily available in a modern edition from 1998 (revised edition from 1989). Just look for used volumes. Of the convolute KANTL 15 the culinary three texts have been published in two papers in 1986 (vol.1 separately from vols 2 and 3) in the Flemish periodical Volkskunde. Volume 4 of KANTL 15 was published by Braekman in 1994. UB 1035 has been published, but over 140 years ago, in 1872. From that edition there is an online rendition of the medieval text, without introduction, notes or translation.
To make these medieval Dutch recipe collections accessible for a larger public, I have started to publish new editions online, with translations in modern Dutch and English and glossaries. The Middle Dutch texts are based on my own transcriptions from the manuscripts, so there may be some differences with the printed editions. The medieval text is public domain, but please note that the translations are not. Please credit the source (i.e. Christianne Muusers) when using the translations.
Manuscript Gent UB 1035 Introduction List of recipes Edition and translations - Chapter 1 Edition and translations - Chapter 2 Glossary | Manuscript Gent UB 476 Although the excellent edition by Jansen-Sieben and Van Winter is available online, it is exclusively in (Middle-)Dutch, with glossary in modern Dutch. So, in the future I hope to be able to provide an edition with modern Dutch and English translations. |
Convolute Gent KANTL 15 Introduction | |
Manuscript Gent KANTL 15 vol.1 Introduction List of recipes Edition and translations - recipes 1-50 Edition and translations - recipes 51-92 Glossary | Manuscript KANTL Gent 15 vol.2 Introduction List of recipes Edition and translations - recipes 1-50 Edition and translations - recipes 51-100 Edition and translations - recipes 101-150 Edition and translations - recipes 151-205 Glossary |
Manuscript Gent KANTL 15 vol.3 Introduction List of recipes Edition and translations - recipes 1-50 Glossary | Manuscript Gent KANTL 15 vol.4 In preparation |