Kaag (ship type)

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Comparison between a Kaag, in the foreground, and a Kromsteven , lying behind it, in a painting by Willem van de Velde the Elder . J.

As Kaag , also Kaagh (old spelling) or Koeg (French Cague , English Lighter ) were watercraft of the coastal fringes and the inland waters of the Netherlands, northwest Germany and northern Denmark. They can be traced back to the 19th century. In addition to the Wijd- and Smalschepen , the Kaag was one of the most common work vehicles in the region and was accordingly often depicted in contemporary art.

Origin and development

There is no reliable knowledge about the origins of the type. In research, an etymological similarity and the similar shape of the Vorstevens assume a shipbuilding origin of the cog . However, the Kaag also represents the origin of the cog in literature. And still others refer to a list from 1506, in which ships of the Gelderland fleet are listed and differentiate between kagen and koggen .
There are a few Frisian finds that speak for a spread in the area of ​​the Limfjord and allow conclusions to be drawn about the Merovingian period (5th century to 751). For the North Sea area, the Frisian Kaag is assumed to exist before the Viking Age (800–1050 AD). Another regional occurrence is assumed by experts before the early 11th century for the area of ​​the Schlei.
In the course of the 17th century, the shape of the hull was changed in such a way that it approximated the more favorable hull ratios of other types. As a result, clear and peculiar features of the Kaag disappeared. This reference to the development of a ship type through tax incentives was conveyed by the Mayor of Amsterdam, Nicolaas Witsen . In the course of the 18th century, the type continued to approach other forms and became part of the Tjalken group , but the existence of the Kaag ship type is documented until the 19th century. Due to its widespread use, it was featured frequently in Dutch art in the 17th century. No representation is known from the period 100 years earlier, only written certificates can be verified. In the 18th century the importance seems to have decreased, as significantly fewer representations are known. However, the first Kagen models are known from this century. To what extent these are contemporary or rather reconstructive is no longer recognizable today.

Purpose and areas of use

Two different forms and regional variants of a Kaag; according to Reinier Zeeman

The Kaag is an inland vehicle that drove in the Netherlands, in northwest Germany with the Lower Elbe , the Rhine and on the Schlei . Experts also assume it is used in the Limfjord .

The guy may also have been used as a review driver. These are licensed shippers who were allowed to drive all kinds of goods on certain days and to certain locations. However, the vehicles used are usually only referred to as first-time drivers without specifying the types actually used. So it is not always clear which type the licensed shipper used. Kagen were most often used in ferry traffic in the region around Amsterdam to Texel , on the Rhine to Wesel and in lightening seagoing vessels in the Texel roadstead.

Constructive features

Depiction of a Kaag near Witsen

By the end of the 17th century, contemporary depictions show a rump similar to the modern type of the Dutch stallion . The straight and steeply sloping stem with a narrow foredeck is striking. This is where this type differs from other contemporary forms. As a result, the load-bearing capacity of this type is lower than that of other types. They are equipped with side swords , with Steve rudder, which goes over the head Steve and the planking, he has in common with other types. Also, the reputation or roof (dt. Roof ) is a feature of various ship and boat shapes. It was even mandatory for ferries. The crew should not find protection here, but the passenger. The floor of the vehicle is designed as a flat floor and thus adapted to the shallow fairways.
The cargo capacity changes with the intended use, details of 6 loads are known as Fährkaag and up to 100 tons for 1831 are mentioned as lighter. The length varies accordingly. However, only a few scattered information is known: Ake Ralamb mentions 54 Swedish feet for a Dutch Kaag, while Witsen mentions 47 feet in a zer . In 1657 the Kagen required a minimum length of 28 feet for the journey from Rotterdam to Dordrecht. More recent information is 13 meters and 15-18 meters.

Others

The vehicle driver, who could also be the owner, was called Kaagmann . This profession could even lead to a family name.

Notes / individual evidence

  1. ↑ East Frisian Yearbook: Old and New from East Frisia . Volume 2, 1870, p. 143.
  2. ^ Johannes Hoops: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde . Volume 27, p. 18, de Gruyter-Verlag, Bonn-Duisburg-Freiburg, 2004.
  3. ↑ a b c d Detlev Ellmers: Early medieval merchant shipping in Central and Northern Europe . 1972, p. 75.
  4. ↑ a b 17th Baltic Conference on History of Science: Baltic science between the west and the east, Tartu, 4-6 October 1993
  5. ↑ a b c G.CE Crone: Nederlandsche yachts, binnenschepen, visschersvaartuigen en daarmee related small zeeschepen, 1650–1900. Schiedam 1926 (ND 1978); Pp. 52-53, 181-183.
  6. ↑ Nicolaas Witsen: Architectura navalis et regimen nauticum Ofte Aaloude en hedendaagsche scheeps-bouw en bestier. Amsterdam 1690 (digitized version of the Dutch National Library) [1] here pp. 188, 192, 309ff.
  7. ↑ a b Alain Clouet: Voiliers de travail: 2500 bateaux à voiles et à rames à travers les siècles et les océanes . la Rochelle 2008, p. 69.
  8. ↑ Two models from the 18th century from the Het Scheepvaartmuseum , one model each from the Maritime Museum Rotterdam and the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum; see results for the term Kaag at Maritiem Digitaal
  9. ^ A b Johann Hinrich Röding: General dictionary of the navy in all European sea languages ​​with complete explanations . Nemnich, Hamburg & JJ Gebauer, Halle 1793–1798 digitized ; here vol. I, col. 763
  10. ↑ Beurtfahrer is a professional title in shipping; Meaning: Skippers who go to certain places
  11. ↑ a b Jules van Beylen: Schepen van de Nederlanden; van de late middeleeuwen dead het a van de 17e eeuw . Amsterdam 1970, pp. 163-166, 169-170.
  12. ^ EW Petrejus: Scheepsmodellen; Inland Schepen. Bussum 1964; Pp. 20-29; It is not mentioned which foot measurement was used for Witsen, most likely the Amsterdam foot.
  13. ↑ Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Jennifer Scott, Jennifer Anne Scott: Dutch Landscapes . S. Royal Collection Publications, 2010, p. 99.
  14. ↑ private generaological page of the Kagenaar family (nl.)
  15. ↑ Distribution of names and origin of the name on the website of the Mertens Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

literature

  • Ole Crumlin-Pedersen: Cog-Kogge-Kaag, Træk af en Frisisk Skib Types Historic. Arbok, 1965, pp. 81-140.
  • Jules van Beylen: Schepen van de Nederlanden; van de late middeleeuwen dead het a van de 17e eeuw . Amsterdam 1970.
  • G .C. E. Crone: Nederlandsche yachts, binnenschepen, visschersvaartuigen en daarmee related small zeeschepen, 1650–1900 . Schiedam 1926 (ND 1978).
  • Detlev Ellmers: Early medieval merchant shipping in Central and Northern Europe . 1972, p. 75.
  • Nicolaas Witsen: Aeloude en hedendaegsche scheeps-bouw en bestier . Amsterdam 1671. Digitized version of the Bibliotheek Rotterdam , here p. 168 with illustration
  • Georg Dietrich von der Groeben : Explanations on understanding shipping and naval warfare according to alphabetical order . Year of publication 1774, Breßlau. Reprint of the original edition: Neufahrn / Percha 1984, ISBN 3-88706-235-3 , p. 170.
  • Johann Hinrich Röding: General dictionary of the navy . Volume 1, Hamburg / Leipzig 1800.

Web links

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