A place with narrow waters and small ships
As Ad Langelaar began to unravel the history of Fenrir he was insistent that she must be no more than 3.2 m wide to be a Langedijker, and explained that she came from an area of Holland north of Amsterdam, “a place with narrow waters and small ships” – called Langedijk - Bingo!.
I became interested in this, as it sounded nothing like the waterways that we had seen in Holland.
What follows is not guaranteed to be correct, but is my interpretation of what I have been told or gleaned from various sources. One problem is that most of the useful sites are in Dutch, and do not translate well with Babel fish. For a long time I was thrown by the translation to the word “trousers” – it turns out to be the normal translation of the word Broek which in my context was actually a place Broek op Langedijk.
What followed has been a fascinating run through history.
My early efforts were aimed at finding an “academic” definition of a Langedijker. Having holidayed in Amsterdam I was aware of the Ship museum, (www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl) and mailed them. One of the Curators was very helpful and explained the term was used for a variety of craft which came from that area. She suggested that Fenrir was really a Luxemotor, Langedijker being a subclass thereof, the smallest in size.
She pointed me to this website:
www.langedijkwaterrijk.nl/varend/431-langedijkers.htm for the best definition.
Herewith the Babel fish translation of that page:
" Langedijkers" cargo liners have been made on the half-measures of lock. But how drunk that now exact, because there were nevertheless a lot several scheepstypen in Langedijk? That is correct yes, thus we let start but at the beginning. For 1756 the ships wooden which by means of but came to Langedijk, had by means of persuade concerning the dike be drawn. According to " Crone, Witsen and of Konijnenburg" dam cursors were for this mostly used. Specifically concerning Noord-Holland they wrote: " The ships which conduct narrow bodems" on Noord-Holland prefareren;. This will have to do has with the vele narrow wateren. dam cursors had approximately 30 charge laadvermogen. (1scheepslast =2000 k.g.). The dam cursors which conduct on Langedijk were probably smaller. W.A.van Wintschoten wrote concerning the damlooper: " A small on national level or more actual North Dutchman vessel, which bequaam have been persuaded concerning dikes and dams and oovertoomen at werden".
(1scheepslast =2000 k.g.). The dam cursors which conduct on Langedijk were probably smaller. W.A.van Wintschoten wrote concerning the damlooper: " A small on national level or more actual North Dutchman vessel, which bequaam have been persuaded concerning dikes and dams and oovertoomen at werden". As from 1756 went that `hil aars' because then in the Hoornse speed at but was built a lock. The dimensions of this lock were 14.40 mtr. long and 3.15 mtr. broad. As from that moment one had been therefore bound to the half-measures of this lock. Most used the vessels were tjalken, package barges, sulk and a single aakje. A lot of of these ships were as appetite barges or became geboomd. Laadvermogen around the 20 barrels. In 1769, trousers on Langedijk themselves got own lock also its, these a breadth from 3.25 mtr had. and was13.60 mtr. long. (length between the doors). The tjalk was used most, this ship also dam barge was called and had a dimension of 48 feet of long and 11 feet widely. The laadvermogen was around 19 barrels. These half-measures have been regularly found in old files people of among other things foundation C.O.O.G.en this denomination prevent also already in the " Croniek van Schagen" from 1728. These communicate that Schagen are movement maintained with 13 dam barges. dam barges that also came conduct on Schagen along Langedijk and by means of the Waardje, the Schagervaart and Tjallewal came they to the Loet at Schagen. From Amsterdam foot had been toe-driven in the scheepsbouw and corresponded to 283 mm. The barges were therefore 48 times 283 mm = 13.58 mtr .lang, and were appropriate therefore tight between the doors in trousers and the breadth, 11 time 283 mm = 3.11mtr and were possible with regard to breadth therefore exact by the lock in but. The sketch shows that the rudder had be even pulled down to be able open the lock doors.
The wooden barges were gradually replaced as from 1878 by their iron continuators, the Langelijkerkoftjalk. These had the same dimensions as their wooden predecessors. 23 copies of which 8 sailing and 15 as motorkof, have sailed. Laadvermogen 20 barrels. As from 1895 also so-called were platkopaakjes built, these were cheaper build than the round yapped. Up to 1923 24 stuks of these Aakjes have been. Laadvermogen 20 barrels. Around 1902 with building the style bitches scheepjes, or also `Luxemotor' it was also started there called.
As from 1920 this type ship in larger length was built to plm. 20 mtr and with sometimes 45 barrels laadvermogenschepen. Of this type is there in several variations up to 1931 at least 85 built, and all not broader than 3.15 mtr. Because the lock in but was just raised in 1941. In that year also the old lock of trousers gesloopt was taken and new in use.
and a drawing of a tight fitting lock.
I came across this one, which bore out her feeling that the term could be applied to very different craft:
http://vaartips.nl/binnenvaart.htm (titled ‘ Oude binnenvaartschepen’)
Anyone for a cabbage?
I found this Langedijker page – part of amazing work http://www.debinnenvaart.nl/binnenvaarttaal compiled by Pieter Klien (more of whom later) which includes Langedijkers of various shapes including this one with the straight stem ("steilsteven") of Fenrir and probably the requisite 13m length (more later)
and from there the website of a little Museum run by another enthusiast Nico Vader which looks like a must see.
I mailed Nico and a colleague of his, Pieter Klien has been in regular contact since. He told us: “To be exact the type of your ship is a ‘motorscheepje’ and because it's built with the dimensions of the Langedijk you may call it a ‘Langedijker motorscheepje’. The word "Langedijker" and nothing more, is commonly used for the "Langedijker platkopaak"
By now had I come to understand that the dimensions of anything called a Langedijker was limited by one lock in the area, and that that lock had originally limited length to some 13 metre, and beam to 3.12 metre. But around 1919 the lock was extended in length to allow ships of 22m length to pass. The objective now turned to finding where this lock was, and what it looked like!
It seems that Fenrir spent her working life in a very small area. (For a larger map, see photos). Initially perhaps just running vegetables from the Langedijk area to Alkmaar, say 6 miles.
I spent a lot of time researching an area of Langedijk known as the empire of a Thousand Islands. This is an amazing place. In essence a complex of fields which can only be reached by water.
But that did not stop the use of horse and plough!
And the place had a “sail through” Auction House which held “Timed Auctions” (about which I still have to learn more) which still exists as an entertainment complex (www.broekerveiling.nl).
The area is entered via a lock (sluis) at Broek op Langedijk, which still exists (and has Nico’s museum to it’s NW).
This threw me as I had been told the lock was removed around 1939. Pieter set me to rights – the defining lock had indeed been removed, and was at Alkmaar, not Langedijk, in an area known as Zeswielen (six wheels).
(So perhaps our boats ought to be called Zeswieleners or Alkmaars!)
That area is easy to find, and it seems most people now think the name comes from the six windmills which existed along it.
But the name may predate the windmills. In the days before locks were in common use, a way of coping with different river levels was the “overhaul” – an up and down ramp over which the boat was manually hauled – the one in question had six wheels, hence Zeswielen. First built, it is said, in 1526. I still ponder why, as the main river system weaves around and arrives by the basin which the canal connects to. Pieter suggests it is to do with differing “watercounsels” – perhaps extortionate fees being charged as on the River Exe near Exeter years ago.
I thought I had it when I studied this map of the newly dug canal Hoornse from 1627. The last bit of the caption translates as: “Extreme left the River Schemeer. Right the overhaul of the six wheels. The North under.” i.e. it is drawn south up with the main river to the left.
I read somewhere the lock was by the first windmill, which I assumed to be windmill A – which does not exist any longer. This photo gave me encouragement, as it was captioned “Strijkmolens A-E van de Zes Wielen, ca. 1930” and appears to show a lock by it. But I now think this is not so. I have come to realise that the complex of waterways here was much greater than at present.
I have come to believe that the lock is to the left of this photo. The small similar colour picture above shows the lock on the left. I think that colour picture depicts the situation around 1905, i.e. before the lock was lengthened. The photo below shows the lock, possibly from the size of the ship (which is not Fenrir) after it was lengthened.
A photo (from a website about the windmills (http://msa.dvonline.net/Zes%20Wielen.htm) I think) - further encouraged me to think I had located the site.
It must just have been a bit further round, and I became sure that I had found the spot.
At last I found a contact at the Alkmaar Archive http://www.archiefalkmaar.nl. He confirmed that the lock had been in the area that I had tracked down and that there is one remnant left – one lock wall which is just to the right of the bridge in the aerial photo above and has a large white boat moored against it. So journey’s end with regard to where the lock was.
The Archive has many pictures of the Zeswielen area. Unfortunately the mills are so photogenic the lock barely gets a look in. The two best seem to be the small colour postcard and the one labelled “Ill. 219” (both above). The former dates from 1905, i.e. before the lock was lengthened. I have enhanced the lock part of it and this gives an idea of how tiny it was.
I had contacted the Archive after I found out that it had been displaying a model of the area as it was many years ago:
My contact explained:
“The picture of the model renders the situation quite faithfully.
On the left of the house you see a small canal, low lying, with a so-called overtoom in it, a device to haul a small boat over a dike. On the right of the house was the lock. It's not so very good visible, because the house prevents a full view of it. So the lock was in the main canal, the Hoornse Vaart.
We are here on a spot with three water-levels: the lowest in the small canal on the
left (the normal level in the smaller waterways and ditches in the countryside above Alkmaar), a high level in the Hoornse Vaart that had to drain the central waterways above Alkmaar (on which the countryside-polders drained their water) and a little less higher level in front of the lock and around the strijkmolens (mills). This waterlevel was on the level of the so-called Schermerboezem, the level in the Hoornse Vaart was on the level of the Raaksmaatsboezem. The mills made it possible to pump water from the Raaksmaatsboezem to the Schermerboezem. The two boezems drained in the Zuiderzee, nowadays IJsselmeer, but each on a different level.
Later on the 2 boezems became the same level and the lock was no longer necessary. Still later on, the Hoornse Vaart was broadened and almost all trace of the lock and the lockhouse are gone.”
On the left of the house you see a small canal, low lying, with a so-called overtoom in it, a device to haul a small boat over a dike. On the right of the house was the lock. It's not so very good visible, because the house prevents a full view of it. So the lock was in the main canal, the Hoornse Vaart.
We are here on a spot with three water-levels: the lowest in the small canal on the
left (the normal level in the smaller waterways and ditches in the countryside above Alkmaar), a high level in the Hoornse Vaart that had to drain the central waterways above Alkmaar (on which the countryside-polders drained their water) and a little less higher level in front of the lock and around the strijkmolens (mills). This waterlevel was on the level of the so-called Schermerboezem, the level in the Hoornse Vaart was on the level of the Raaksmaatsboezem. The mills made it possible to pump water from the Raaksmaatsboezem to the Schermerboezem. The two boezems drained in the Zuiderzee, nowadays IJsselmeer, but each on a different level.
Later on the 2 boezems became the same level and the lock was no longer necessary. Still later on, the Hoornse Vaart was broadened and almost all trace of the lock and the lockhouse are gone.”
I cannot say that I fully understand the workings of the waterways – it may take a visit to the Archive to learn more.
As a final clincher, I should record that Pieter Klien had not been totally convinced that I had found the right spot. Being the man he is, he turned his full attention to the subject, and found in a day what had taken me many weeks. Several maps dating from 1832 to 1935 (i.e. before the lock was removed) specifically labelled with the lock position (Overtoom de ZesWielen). There is now no doubt.
The map above dates from 1903. It is fascinating to see how little Alkmaar had grown from the original medieval town.
I remained saddened that I could not find a good photograph of the lock. Once again the Pieter/Nico combination came to my rescue. From another “old photos” website came these two, showing the lock before it was lengthened, and after – looks like a cheap and cheerful job! Interesting that in the one immediately below, both sets of gates are open. This suggests that at times the water level difference was insignificant, which fits with the eventual decision to remove the lock altogether.
I even wonder if this was the opening of the extension – there are a surprising number of men in suits on the lock wall:
The message on the high beam translates as: “Use of the propeller is strictly forbidden in the lock”.
So there we have it – journey’s end. We know that a Langedijker is a boat that worked the small waterways around Langedijke and Alkmaar. We know there were many types. We know that the maximum size was constrained by the Zeswielen lock. We know where that lock was, and what it looked like before and after it was extended.
_______________________________________________________________
In closing I have to give apologies and credits.
In my meanderings around the web I have collected all manner of images which I may have re-produced on this web-page. If the display of any of these gives offense, or requires better accreditation, please contact us and the matter will be rectified.
Massive thanks to those who have helped me in my quest, the Amsterdam Ship Museum, the Langedijker Associations (which include much work by Nico Vader), Ad Langelaar, the Alkmaar Archive and most particularly Pieter Klien whose support has been invaluable.
Now a last minute edition just before publication. On re-reading some of the material that I have collected, I realise that the lock at Broek op Langedijk originally had similar dimensions (slightly shorter) to the Zeswielen lock, but it was increased in length (considerably) nearly forty years earlier. So in the early days it was a lock at Langedijk which defined the maximum size of the ships. For completeness - it was eventually filled, and the new bigger lock created some distance away.
_______________________________________________________________
For lots and lots of Langedijkers in party mood, see the Koolsail 2005 folders on
The ZesWielen lock, whose dimensions, in effect, gave rise to a whole fleet of Langedijkers
