The Guild of the Blue Water Captains was founded on December 26,
1401 as the St. Nicholas brotherhood.
During the Reformation, the St.Annen Brotherhood banded together with the
Fischergesellschaft (Fishermen's Guild) as the Guild of the Blue Water
Captains. Colloquial it has been called the "Schippern Selschup".
In 1535, the guild bought the building that was build in 13th century for 940
Luebische Mark.
Over the years, the Guild of the Blue Water Captains had many responsibilities
for example: writing out the ship passes, guarding the harbour and giving advice to the
senate. In the year 1866, the Guild of the Blue Water Captains became to a free company and
represented the interests from its members. Later, the Guild of the Blue Water Captains ran into insolvency
and had to sell the building. Nowadays, the building is used as a restaurant, the "Schiffergesellschaft".
The Guild of the Blue Water Captains house is opposite
the Jakobi Church on the Breite Straße in Luebeck. It was bought in 1535 and
renovated until 1538 to create 18 apartments for the brothers in the guild.
The building was designed in the early Renaissance style. The Renaissance style
used red bricks, and is similar to red brick Gothic.
Located in front of the main building is the "God's cellar". Today the "God's cellar"
is part of a historical restaurant called the "Schiffergesellschaft". The building
was left unscathed during World War II and only the interior decor was restored
between 1972 and 1976. The back court yard was opened for the guests in 2005.
Inside of the building, numerous models of old sailing-ships are exhibited and the
walls are decorated with paintings from Biblical scenes.
The building and much of the centre of Luebeck have been declared world cultural
heritage sites by the UNESCO.