The two Scottish houses that form this museum were originally built for Scottish factors. The house that you are in now is called ‘In den Struys’ (Ostrich), but the facing brick shows another kind of bird: a little grebe (a bird that was prolific in Zeeland), or a dodo, the now extinct bird found on Mauritius. The house to the left is called ‘Het Lammeken’ (the lamb), which was appropriate to the importation of wool. It still has most of its original features.
Before the staple contract with Scotland was formalised, Veere had been an important harbour town for many years. The Great Church, that opened its doors in 1435, bears witness to this as does the Town Hall that has been in use since 1474. This was due to Veere’s freedom from import duties and the good contacts that the Lords of Veere had formed, both nationally and internationally.
The staple contract meant that the Scots enjoyed a number of privileges. They were allowed to administer their own justice (through the Conservator) and were provided with a free building (The House of the Scottish Nation) containing an office for the Conservator, an inn and a hotel. Here, beer and wine was tax free. The Scots were also provided with a large water reservoir or well (cistern) with which to wash their own wool. Furthermore, they were given a niche in the ‘Kleine Kerk’ (Small Church) and a rectory for their preacher free of charge as well as free beacons at sea, pilot services and priority regarding berths in the harbour. With these privileges came a number of obligations. A toll per ship had to be paid to the city (the poet Adriaen Valerius (1570-1625), for example, was toll-gatherer and lived on the quay side) as well as to the Conservator, innkeeper and to the poor. The Scots had to be well dressed and had to pay a fine for swearing within the House of the Scottish Nation.
Within this room are show-cases containing a staple contract, that was regularly renewed and was written in French (that being the judicial language), a letter of appointment to Lord Conservator with a royal seal and the Conservator’s silver badge of office. Discoveries from the cesspit of the old ‘House of the Scottish Nation’ are also on display.
The book-keeper and the toll-gatherer sat in the back room (office).
(c) Museum 'De Schotse Huizen' Veere
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