Dutch Sailing Barge Golden Re'al
Dutch Sailing Barge Golden Re'al
Dutch Sailing Barge Golden Re'al Tentative Tour Schedule:
Schedule to be announced
Please check back for schedule updates.
Due to berthing and depth constraints, not all vessels will be at all tour stops. Expected vessels can change without notice.
Length: 21m
Beam: 4m 30 cm
The “Golden Re’al” was built in 1903 at the Jensen ship yard on the River Ijsel in the Netherlands.
This model of sailing barge is known as a “Hagen Ark” and has a load capacity of 96 tons. Cargo was carried in an amidship hold accessed through hatches on the deck. The living space for the boats crew was in a small cabin separate from the cargo.
The boat was christened as “Suzanna." In 1929 she was lengthened by 3 meters and renamed “Tonny." At the end of World War Two, under the name “Wilhelmina” she traveled to the north of Holland as a food relief ship carrying precious cargo to the starving residents of Amsterdam. There are many photos in city archives of these flat-bottom cargo vessels. The primary work for these barges was to receive cargo from sea-going ships then carry the goods through the canal systems of Europe.
The current owner, while living on Realen Island in Amsterdam, renamed the vessel “Golden Re'al,” referring to the Spanish coin also known as “pieces of eight.”
The barge has been refitted to accommodate small group parties and tours.
For more information on Golden Re'al:
http://www.newneth.org/index.htm