2026/38 - Boats, boats and more boats

 And now for something completely different. I have told you before that Brielle, the historic town I call my home, is very active in Summer, right? Pageants, markets, concerts, cultural events, and on Sat. 12th an Old Working Boats Meet. We are situated on an island, the island of Voorne, and along an old river, the Brielse Maas. Which, by an unlucky decision in the last century, has been dammed off and is now a lake, Brielse Meer.

My favourite time to walk my senior dog Puck is in the early morning, when the sun comes up over the other side of the lake.

I say 'walk', but due to her age (around 12) it is more of a shuffle. I have a dodgy knee, so we shuffle and limp along...

Still, we both love this time of day!

This is the spot where the foot and bycicle ferry crosses the lake to the next island along.

Now, normally there are some old tugs moored to the left of this ferry, but they have sailed into the inner harbour for the day. Where they are joined by many more old tug boats and other working vessels. We Dutch are a seafaring nation at heart, it is in our DNA (even Napoleon acknowledged that; did you know he said 'every Dutch man is a sailor' ? I am currently writing a book about the period when the French occupied my country) 

The entrance to the two inner harbours via the canal from the lake.

Brielle used to be a herring fishing port, and for some time during the 13th century it made it a very rich and important port. Unfortunately the river silted up, making it harder to reach the harbour, and for some reason the herring stayed away as well. In 1572 the Geuzen were still able to reach the town, making it the first liberated town during the 80 year war against the Spanish oppressor. But by then the town was in decline; the huge cathedral was never finished, two arms of the ship are missing.

The merchants still built their posh brick houses though, most of them date from the mid 17th century.

Then, during the 18th century, the French invaded the country under rule by Napoleon Bonaparte, and Brielle (called Den Briel of old) again played an important part, housing the naval ships that were used to keep the English from our shores. Mind you, we preferred the English to the French by then! 

In 1813 Brielle citizens threw out the French occupancy, no doubt inspired by 1572 when they did the same with the Spanish.

There used to be guilds; this building houses two: Zakkendragers (porters) and Kaailopers (dockworkers), both guilds to do with unloading merchant ships.

The canal looking from the inner harbour towards the lake, taken from the Waterpoort (water gate).

The reality along the quays...cars and more cars. The council is trying to get them out of the inner town, but so far no plan has worked.

I hope you have liked my diversion from plants. If so, spread the word. If not, no worries, next week it'll be back to plants.

Have a great week, wherever you are!

Renée Grashoff