Wieringer Skuutje and Aak - Den Oever

The Wieringer Skuutje and the Wieringer Aak are traditional fishing boats. They played an important role on the waters around the former island of Wieringen, the Zuiderzee and the Wadden Sea. Both types of ships are flat-bottomed, which made them suitable for the shallow waters around the island. Their flat bottoms allowed them to fall dry on the sandbanks of the Wadden Sea.

The WR60, built in 1840, is the oldest fishing vessel still sailing in the Netherlands. It is a sailing monument and the calling card for its home port of Den Oever. The ship is used for cruises and as a training vessel. In the summer, it is a valued guest at various festivities in the harbours of the IJsselmeer and Markermeer.

The Wieringer Aak is a heavier and wider ship than the Skuutje. It has a flat bottom, a low bow and a fairly high stern. The aak also has its home port in Den Oever. Around 1900, there were an estimated 125 aken sailing around Wieringen. Thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers, these little ships have been preserved for future generations.

Both ships are moored in the Historic Corner of the port of Den Oever and are iconic symbols of Wieringen's maritime history.

Photo: ©Kenneth Stamp, Municipality of Hollands Kroon