Registered association (Germany)

The oldest known social club is La Court de Bonne Compagnie, established in London and mentioned in 1413.

Societies based on language were formed in the seventeenth century, with exclusive English upper class gentlemen's clubs of the eighteenth century, Masonic lodges, the literary societies of the Enlightenment, and political clubs of the French Revolution being some of the earliest examples.

As a result of industrialisation during the nineteenth century, modern clubs, societies and federations began to develop, including those focused on culture, education and socialising.

Due to this theoretical distinction, the concept of Verein is also the legal basis for particular economic entities (Kapitalgesellschaften) such as GmbH and Aktiengesellschaft, which are also endowed with juridical personhood.

These are regulated in separate statutes as special economic associations but bear the same basic features.

This means that associations are not limited to private clubs formed by natural persons but have a much broader scope.

They can be locally limited club-like institutions but also nationwide units representing important economic or social groups.