The Neeltje Jacoba by BeeldWoord

About "The Neeltje Jacoba"

by BeeldWoord

About the artwork

The Neeltje Jacoba was built in 1929. It was a sister ship of the Insulinde (1927), one of the first self-aligning lifeboats, and was also built by the Gebroeders Niestern shipyard in Delfzijl. The ship was a gift from the Vereniging voor den Effectenhandel to the Noord- en Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij (NZHRM), and was named after Neeltje Jacoba Stroeve-Dros, the late wife of then VE chairman Stroeve.
It was launched on 7 December 1929, and from 13 July 1930 was stationed at the IJmuiden rescue station. It carried out more than 250 rescues, saving a total of 206 people. On 2 December 1950, during an action of the Neeltje Jacoba, all 30 people on board were rescued from the Greek cargo ship Metamorfosis.

On 14 September 1968 the Neeltje Jacoba became reserve ship of station IJmuiden. One year later she was sold to the Pilotage. The ship entered service in Den Helder as a pilot vessel under the name Zeeduiker; the open steering position was then replaced by a closed wheelhouse. In 1973 the ship was sold to a private owner who neglected the ship, and in 1985 it was bought by Floor Kersten. He had the ship renovated in 1987. The exterior remained intact, but the interior was converted into a pleasure yacht with two cabins. During the renovation part of the so called tilt tanks were removed, which made it possible for the ship to raise itself. In 1989 other engines were put in.

In that same year the ship was sold to Klaas Bruinsma. In 1991 Bruinsma sold the ship to the foundation 'Tot Behoud van de Traditionele Motorbedrijfsvuigen' in Enkhuizen, which he had set up himself, to keep it out of potential seizures by the tax authorities. In spite of this, the tax authorities seized three of Bruinsma's ships, including the Neeltje Jacoba.
(Wikipedia)