SHIP CARPENTER
The shipyard in the former fishing village of Spakenburg is the oldest in the Netherlands and still in full operation. The history of the shipyard dates back to at least 1583 and today traditional Dutch fishing boats, called ‘Botters’, are still being repaired and restored here.
Fishing on the Zuiderzee had its glory days until 1900, but with the construction of the Afsluitdijk in 1932, fishing declined rapidly. When the reclamation of the Southern Flevopolder began in 1959, right in front of Spakenburg harbor, fishing was truly over. After a period in which the shipyard fell into disrepair, interest in the traditional Botters, this time intended for recreational use, nevertheless returned.
“Around 1880 there were over 2,000 Botters, 65 of which remain today. We repair and restore them here,” says Marco Venendaal, owner of the shipyard.
The three craftsmen at the shipyard are looking for enthusiasts who want to learn the trade to keep the craft alive. “But that’s not so easy,” says Marco. “Working in the shipyard is often underestimated. It is very hard, and we work outside all year round, in all weathers. That still scares young people sometimes.”
The shipyard is officially a state monument and still has its original appearance, with even, quite uniquely, a wooden ramp still in place. “We still build boats exactly as they did hundreds of years ago, based on earlier notes. Sometimes we think we know better, but it turns out again that the old way works best, they really weren’t stupid back in the day!”