Bakker Geert small

Geert Bakker was born in Wildervank  on 4 September  1846. This is a town in the North East of the Netherlands in the province of Groningen. In the 19th. century sailing days many sailors came from here. The farmers in that area often had large families and as only one son could inherit the farm the others ,if there were more, often went to sea.

 

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He joined Holland America Line in February 1880 in the rank of Chief Officer at the age of 34. So he must have had considerable experience at sea, most likely in steam as well, as it is doubtful if the company would have slotted him in as 2nd in command without it. His first ship was the ss W.A Scholten, the 3rd ship of the company.

The ss W.A Scholten. Named after a major investor in the company, was the first ship that was built after Holland America was founded as the NASM, a public company in 1873. (b)

Two years later in 1882 he was promoted to captain of the ss Maas. (later ss Maasdam I)

In June 1882 he was awarded the “Robin Price” issued by the South Holland lifesaving company (ZHRM) together with the Captain of the ship. This for when he was Chief Officer on the ss W.A Scholten (Captain G.J Vis) for saving the crew of the english barque “Frederick” (Captain Hunter) in heavy seas and storm winds on the North Atlantic on 10 December 1881. The crew of the “Frederick” consisted out of the captain and his wife and 13 others.  Chief Officer Geert Bakker commanded the lifeboat and of one of the volunteer crewmembers the name is known, F van Harten. He received a silver medal from the Dutch lifesaving association (ZHRM) and 10 guilders.

The ss Maas / Maasdam (I). There are no photos of the ship, only lithos and painting. Here one by the marine artist Captain Stehpen Card (b)

As he was sailing at the same time as another Bakker, first name Willem, he was known as the “Black” Bakker. (“Zwarte Bakker” in Dutch). His name sake was known as “Red Bakker” (“Roode Bakker” in Dutch). I assume the colors referred to their hair.

By 1888 he is captain of the ss Rotterdam (II) and a newspaper published this drawing of him.

Captain Willem Bakker in 1888 (b)

For anecdotes and history he is remembered in the company’s history, in relation the mutiny on the Obdam,. Please look at the history of this ship  under Holland America Fleet.

The ss Obdam in dry dock in Rotterdam. The ship to the left above the tugboat is the ss Merapi of the Rotterdam Lloyd.

In 1892 he disappears from the company records and according to some sources passed away in 1893. Did he retire because of illness ?

Sailing dates: (a)

Date:                    Function:                            Ship:                                    Wages and/or remarks.

xx. Feb.1880      Chief Officer                      W.A. Scholten                   fl 100,–

17 May. 1882      Captain                               Maas                                   150,– +2%  later fl 200,–

01 Sep. 1884        Captain                               W.A. Scholten                   200,–

15 Apr. 1885      Temporary  ashore.

09 Jun.     1885      Captain                               Schiedam                            250,–

08 Sep.    1886     Temporary  ashore assigned to the ss Scholten

24 Sep.  1886      Captain                               W.A.Scholten                    250,–   eendrachtsstraat Rotterdam

16 Nov. 1887      Temporary ashore

01 Dec. 1887      Captain                               Amsterdam                        250,— (exBritish Crown)(temp)

13 Apr. 1888      Captain                               Rotterdam

24 Aug. 1888      Honorary discharged from the ss Rotterdam

16 Mar. 1889      Captain                               Obdam

01 Jan.  1891     Temporary relieved from command

01 Jan. 1891        Captain                               Veendam                            250,–    Temporary in command.(Did not sail with the ship)

06 Feb. 1891       Captain                               Obdam                                250,–

17 Apr. 1892       Send ashore on inactivity and later dismissed.

Died 19 June 1893 ???

Sources:

(a) Contemporary newspapers

(b) Authors archive and photo collection.

Last updated: 02 July 2025.