The cloth industry appears to have been important in the development of the town until the 17th century along with malting.

The town received its city charter in 1233 and grew quickly after that thanks to a thriving cloth industry.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the economy boomed thanks to the cloth industry.

During the 14th and 15th century, the cloth industry flourished in Kaprijke.

The paper industry was soon overtaken by the cloth industry.

New schools also appeared in the city and the cloth industry found a new life.

The merchant controlled the rates of pay and economically dominated the cloth industry.

It's possible that a fulling mill existed in the early 13th century at the start of a local cloth industry.

The prosperity of the city was based upon the cloth industry and the production of salt.

After the mechanisation of the cloth industry, the Piece Hall became a public market.