Joris (28) from Woudsend is crazy about tugboats: ‘the old engines, the technology, the history: beautiful’

“Sjoch, der leit ‘er!”, Kees van Stralen calls excitedly to his son and daughter, as he strides towards the Feint, the tugboat that was his property a quarter of a century ago. The almost 12 meter long vessel, built in 1897, was once a fishing vessel. “But I’m here for the rack,” says the man from Idskenhuizen. So you can enjoy sailing along.

The special thing about the Feint, according to Van Stralen, was, among other things, the hot-bulb engine, a self-igniting combustion engine.

He has fond memories of it, although it was also a lot of work. “If I think about it again, I will definitely miss that.” After the Feint, Van Stralen bought another boat, on which he lived for four years. Nowadays he has a cruiser, this Saturday’s mode of transport. “But that’s neat to get into the boat. Got some oars ashes in tugboat.”

Kees van Stralen with his son and daughter at the Feint

Daughter Nynke (12) listens with interest heat is interviewed. What does she think of the Feint? “Would be nice, and fun to be in my home in all the boats.”

Feeling of pride

The Feint, which enthusiasts can take a boat tour on, is one of the sixty tugboats that can be admired today. They bear names such as Trochsetter, Alletijd and Grutsk, and anyone who talks to the owner will indeed soon sense a sense of pride. Such as Joris Baas (28), who participates with his pusher Tammo and tug Wâldsein.

When he was sixteen, De Woudsender bought his first tugboat. “I completely restored it, and then made it one step bigger each time.” He has had the shiny green Tammo for ten years now. He is most proud of the engine that dates from 1946 and is still a powerhouse. What fascinates him about the sailing heritage? “The old engines, the techniques, the history. Every boat is unique,” says the co-organizer of the event, while Johnny Cash plays from the speaker in the background.

The participants of this eighteenth edition come from all over the Netherlands; all old, authentic boats with at most some modern gadgets here and there. A number are still in operation as tugs or pushers. And most of them will also be attending the National Tugboat Days in Zwartsluis this weekend. It is a hobby for Baas, although he also sails on a freight ship for work.

Smoked eel

Around noon, the smell of the bubbling engines mixes with that of smoked eel further into the village. There, the men of shanty choir De Peijesjongers enhance the maritime atmosphere with their sea shanties.

Mariëtte Koenen walks with her husband on the Iewâl, the stage for the tugboats. De Sneekse is a loyal visitor to the tugboat days, because of her personal bond with the vessel. “I come from a tugboat, my parents had one and sailed with it throughout the Netherlands,” says the 71-year-old woman with an Amsterdam drawl. She also met her husband in the world (“we lay to the side of each other”). Together they earned their living by dredging.

Now that the couple is almost retired, they want to buy a boat. “This is a great opportunity to take a look at a few,” Koenen points to the robust specimen lying behind her and where her other half is already taking a look. An Amsterdammer, for the connoisseur.