{"id":148313,"date":"2023-09-01T07:37:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T05:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/aalten-achteruit\/bredevoort-marksmens-guild\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T15:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:53:33","slug":"bredevoort-marksmens-guild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/society\/associations\/bredevoort-marksmens-guild\/","title":{"rendered":"Bredevoort Marksmen\u2019s Guild"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

As a garrison town<\/a>, Bredevoort has had a civic guard, or markmen’s guild, since the Middle Ages. At that time, civic guards were established as local militias intended to guarantee the order and safety of the citizens. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the civic guards were officially disbanded in 1901, voluntary markmen’s guilds emerged in many places. These had a more folkloric character and organized events such as marksmen’s festivals, the fair, and the king shoot. Many markmen’s guilds also have a brass band and\/or flag wavers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Today, Bredevoort still has a markmen’s guild, namely the Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild. The first written mention in which this markmen’s guild is referred to by name was found in the Aaltensche Courant<\/a> of October 25, 1905. It is assumed that the association had already existed for some time by then. During that same period, Bredevoort appears to have had as many as two markmen’s guilds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association possibly owes its founding to the year 1898, when the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina was celebrated exuberantly. In Bredevoort, a committee was established for this occasion that organized various festivities. These consisted of a fair and a procession of riders with banners. Additionally, a so-called Wilhelmina tree was planted on the Markt square in honor of Wilhelmina’s birthday. Afterward, a marksmen’s festival took place, with the king shoot as the main event. This tradition is still kept alive during the annual folk and marksmen’s festival held in June. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Restart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During World War II, the association was banned and the banners were destroyed by the occupiers. Immediately after the war in 1945, the Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild Bredevoort was officially (re-)established. In 2020, the markmen’s guild celebrated its 75th anniversary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The banners of the Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild feature a crow’s foot, the coat of arms of the Satink family. In the 18th century, Benjamin Satink<\/a> (1704\u20131769) was the acting bailiff of the Lordship of Bredevoort, commissary of the national warehouses, and military auditor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild plays an active role in the Bredevoort community. The markmen’s guild’s flag wavers perform serenades at members’ anniversaries and organize the reveille, early in the morning, and the king shoot during the annual fair. The ‘headquarters’ is the markmen’s house<\/a> on Boterstraat. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Wilhelmina<\/a>
Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild, Bredevoort<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Fair<\/a>
Aaltensche Courant, 12 October 1901<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

40th Anniversary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1985, the Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild in Bredevoort celebrated its 40th anniversary (after its re-establishment):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild occupies a special place in the Bredevoort community and is an integral part of special events in the old town. On October 12, the markmen’s guild celebrates its 40th anniversary. In reality, Bredevoort has had a markmen’s guild for much longer. This is evidenced, among other things, by four old banners that are still held in honor and date from the end of the last century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn outsider wouldn’t give a penny for them and would throw the whole lot with the rags. But for the members of the markmen’s guild, they are worth their weight in gold,\u201d says the current chairman of the markmen’s guild, Hans Wensink from Boterstraat in Bredevoort. This 58-year-old resident of Bredevoort has been chairman for 30 years and also experienced the founding in 1945. \u201cPerhaps we should speak of a re-establishment. It was after World War II, and during the war, the markmen’s guild was disbanded. However, on October 17, 1945, the markmen’s guild once again became a reality.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hans Wensink remembers well that Hendrik Frenken was the first commander. A man with a magnificent commanding voice. \u201cWhen he gave the command: \u201cbattalion forward,\u201d<\/em> the R’s rolled out so beautifully,\u201d Hans Wensink recalls. He also remembers that during marksmen’s festivals, Frenken did not allow himself to be addressed simply by his name. You had to call him captain, no matter how well you knew him. \u201cThat was the atmosphere at the markmen’s guild. After the Frenken period ended, J. van Merkenstein took over command, and now it is D. Dibbets who gives the orders.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Core group<\/strong>The markmen’s guild has always had a core group. After the war, there were only the old banners. These were later replaced because it was a pity to continue using them. Uniforms also arrived only later. In 1959, the traditional marksmen’s festival came to an end when it was decided to collaborate with the Folk Festival to create a joint celebration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The markmen’s house has changed over time, but now they are back at their old base, Caf\u00e9 Munsterbrug<\/a>. The banners, however, are \u201cmaintained\u201d by Mother Wensink. She meticulously ensures that everything is handled correctly. The 90-year-old is an enthusiastic supporter of the markmen’s guild. She can also tell stories about the markmen’s guild that was active in Bredevoort at the beginning of this century. Her husband, who passed away in 1938, was already an adjutant with the markmen’s guild in 1913 and rode on horseback with the group. In those days, ranks in the markmen’s guild were purchased. People came from far and wide to the markmen’s guild in Bredevoort. Mrs. Wensink also knows that the oldest banner dates from 1898 and was waved by Wubbels Sr., who also had three sons who were flag wavers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMa\u201d Wensink also ensures that the marksmen receive their coffee and bread on time during the bird shoot. In the past 40 years, it has happened seven times that the title of marksman king has gone to the Wensink family. \u201cThen it is a real marksmen’s festival; I leave everything as it is and go to the markmen’s house,\u201d says the elderly resident of Bredevoort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebration<\/strong>The markmen’s guild has 160 members, 40 of whom are \u201cactive.\u201d The executive board consists of: Hans Wensink, chairman; Hans Piek, secretary; Engelbert Ebbers, treasurer. On Saturday, October 12, attention will be given to the 40th anniversary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A reception will be held at the Munsterbrug markmen’s house from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and in the evening, there will be a party for the members. \u201cWhatever may change in the coming years, the markmen’s guild must be held in honor. This is something that was started by our ancestors. We must not tear that down. We must be careful with the traditions and customs,\u201d says Hans Wensink. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n
\n

In 2022, a jubilee book<\/strong><\/a> was published, titled ‘Schutterij Wilhelmina Bredevoort’, written by Jos Wessels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n
\n

See also: Aalten Markmen’s Guild<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n
\n

Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n