For many centuries the sandlands in the east of the Netherlands were in communal use. These communalities, as they were called, were carefully managed with a view to maintaining the productive capacity of the land. To make this possible, a system was put in place that required all members of the communality to respect the mutual arrangements they made amongst each other. On no account was self-interest to be given a chance to prevail over the common good. As a result, sustainable management was both the means and the goal of a communality. Can this example from the past offer inspiration for the future?