In the Middle Ages, it was common practice to establish a guild for every professional group, the cheese carriers established theirs in 1593. The cheese carriers’ guild consists of 30 men and the cheese father. Carriers can hold various positions.
Four groups, the so-called forwarding companies, are active in the guild, each of them having their own particular colour: red, green, blue, and yellow, and consisting of 6 cheese carriers and a tasman. The colours are also seen in the cheese carriers’ straw hats, bow ties, and barrows.
Overmannen (foremen) and their servants are the only ones wearing bow ties and are dressed in an authentic white suit. The cheese father is the head of the four forwarding companies and can be recognised by his orange hat and cane. Cheese carriers refer to him as “dad”.