Cargo vessel AALTJE ENGELINA the early years

From cargo ship to luxury Yacht... more than 130 years of history ...

The model Stevenaak was built only in a relatively short period of time. It was among the first sailing vessels which were made of iron. This type cargo ship was built between 1872 and 1885. The sailboats were the Dorstener Aak and Dorstener ship, wooden sailing boats from the time of 1840 to 1890.
A normal size was about 32 meters in length with a capacity of around 250 tonnes. There were also some larger boats, up to 500 tons loading capacity. They were built primarily in the city of Dorsten in Germany. The wood Stevenaak: In the Netherlands, around 1860, a variant of the Dorstener model developed: the Stevenaak, built of wood. These were built in Kinderdijk and Lekkerland. (Info: The History of Stevenaak)

Zeichnung Stevenaak Drawing Stevenaak (source: Geheugen van Nederland)

History of Stevenaak Aaltje Engelina...

The Stevenaak Aaltje Engelina was built in 1883 at the shipyard "De Hope" by C. van der Giessen to Stormpolder and had a length of 22 meters. Previously, there was still no register of ships so the year is not exactly documented. The statements of former owners give the year 1883 as the year of construction.

1904 is the year in which the vessel is first registered in the ship register under the name "Margaret". In 1907 takes place a change of name to "Engelina" instead. During this time, the ship is "riveted" extended to 26 meters. The ship had others names as "De Amer", "Spera", and "Anrie".

In 1963 my parents bought the Stevenaak and they called her "Aaltje" as my mother. They used it as a cargo ship and they transported at the beginning actually everything and later mainly sand, gravel and building materials. In 1964, the ship will be rebuilt again and built a new wheelhouse in Harlingen at the forge "Fopma" at the lock in Noorderhaven, Harlingen.

The pictures below give an impression from the period when my father transported freight, on a few photos you can see a little boy that I am.

Cargo vessel AALTJE in 1963AALTJE 1963 in Leeuwarden Loading sand in Hattum Shoveling sand under the cargo hatches Hard working Close cargo hatches The hatch tarpaulins are on the foredeck Beautiful playground for my sister Play safely In Dokkum during unloading The three ships of Fam. Kooi Unloading via the Skûtsje of my grandfather Wheelhouse lay down in front of the bridge Grandpa painted the name of the vessel Maintenance under the supervision of my mother Have a bathe in the gangway 1964 The new wheelhouse is built in Harlingen The new wheelhouse in front of the roof Unloading in Leeuwarden Skipper Sipke Kooi waiting for more water on the Waddensea 1968 sailing through Dokkum to permanent mooring place the barge "when I grow up, I become skipper too"


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