Biography

The first inhabitants of Schiermonnikoog were reportedly the Cistercian monks from the monastery Claercamp from Friesland, who settled on the island in the Middle Ages. The island owes its name to these companies in gray-clad monks. Schier = gray, eye = island: gray monks island.
For these monks honor in 1961, the statue of the Schiere Monk on the Willemshof unveiled next to the town hall. Artist Martin van Waning made this bronze statue.

In 1580, during the Reformation, the States of Friesland became owner of the island. They leased the land islanders to obtain some income. These revenues were only heavy, resulting in the States had large debts, and also there was at that time unrest on the island. Reason for States to sell Schiermonnikoog in 1638.

Until 1859 the island was owned by the family Stachouwer later Van Starkenborgh-Stachouwer. This family laid the groundwork for the shape of the village as we know it today, built in regions. A large number of street names as Voorstreek, Central Region, Langestreek and Noorderstreek recalls this typical village establishment.

In 1859 the island was owned by Mr. John E. Banck. At his own expense Banck realized our existing dike that protects the village from the sea and Banckspolder created. On his favorite spot on the dike stands a stone bench overlooking the Wadden Sea. This bank is to islanders still known as the Bank of Banck.

In 1878 the island was sold to the German count Hartwig Arthur von Bernstorff. This graph showed a coniferous forest plantations for timber and ensured the construction of the first causeway, the current marina. When he died in 1940 his son inherited Bechtold Eugen Graf von Bernstorff the island came to the Second World War.

Under the Decree on Hostile Property fell ownership of the island in 1944 to the Dutch State.