Have several ancestors with "koolmeter" listed as profession. Cannot find a translation that makes any sense - can anyone help?
The coal carriers provided transport within the city walls, insofar as owners or traders did not do this themselves or it was expressly reserved for others. All coal supplied had to be weighed by the "koolmeter" before it could be transported further. At the same time, the tax was levied. In Roermond (a town in Limburg), the koolmeter and weigh meter were located at the harbor. Actual carrier wages varied by distance.
Merchants from elsewhere who did not bring their products to the Roermond market but wanted to unload them directly in the port were not allowed to do so themselves, but had to leave the quarry to the coal carriers.
Source: https://www.ppsimons.nl/stamboom/ambachten-kooldragers.htm
Thanks ever so much - incredibly helpful!