Schippersgilde (Keern 2 – Kolhorn)

Most ports in the Netherlands had their own skippers’ guild at the end of the Middle Ages. They were of great importance in the port. In 1615 the skippers in Kolhorn also decided to unite in a skippers guild. The Lord of Schagen granted a patent for ‘the Guild of the Inland Sailing Carveelen or Wijtships on Colhorn’. Every year, the Lord at the Castle of Schagen received a share of the proceeds in the form of, for example, a number of baskets of fresh sea fish. Skippers could become a member of the guild by paying six guilders and proving that they were a good citizen of the Steede Barsingerhorn. The guild board was very important. Without letting the guild know what kind of goods and to which port the skipper was transporting his cargo, one was not allowed to set sail. Kolhorn skippers who were not members of the guild were no longer allowed to accept cargoes in their home port. All incoming ships from outside the harbor had to pay beacon money to the guild. And ‘postal money’ was paid for transporting live cattle. Guildhall The skippers’ guild was housed in the building at Keern 2 because from here there was a view of both the outer water and the inner water of Kolhorn. From here the guild could follow the port company well and keep a close eye on the light of ‘the lantern’ (the harbor light) that was almost right in front of the door on the dike. It is also one of the few houses in Kolhorn (and certainly on the Westfriesedijk) with a full first floor. After the first floor there is half an attic space under the gable roof and the building has a characteristic wooden gable. The skippers fair was also held at this location. From 1798 guilds throughout the Netherlands were disbanded due to the dawn of the French era. The skippers guild in Kolhorn also ceased to exist. Garage In a photo from 1968, an advertising sign for Engelbert tires is visible on the facade of Keern 2. It shows that the former guildhall was also suitable for other functions such as a garage and/or a workshop. Today it is a residential house.