schipper

Schipper is a Dutch term for the master of a vessel, particularly a cargo barge or other inland-waterway craft. The word derives from Middle Dutch schipper, related to schip "ship." In Dutch usage, a schipper is the person responsible for commanding and navigating the vessel, managing cargo, and supervising the crew.

Historically, schippers operated on rivers and canals in the Netherlands and Belgium, especially along inland routes such as the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt corridor. They planned voyages, negotiated tolls, handled cargo operations at ports, and maintained the vessel. Authority and licensing varied over time, but a schipper typically bore significant responsibility for the commercial success and safety of the voyage.

Today, the term remains common in Dutch maritime and inland shipping contexts, referring to captains and owners of cargo vessels or barges. In English, “skipper” is the more widely used term; “schipper” is mainly encountered in Dutch-language texts or historical references.

Surname usage: Schipper is also a Dutch occupational surname, meaning “shipmaster” or “boatman.” It is relatively common in the Netherlands and among Dutch diaspora communities.