Welcome to Grachtenrondvaart Sneek!
Our story began in 2013 when the freight ship "Ald Fryslân" welcomed its first guests to experience the Sneeker canals from the water. Since our founding, we have had the pleasure of taking many guests on tours through Sneek and the surrounding areas, becoming a well-known name in Sneek. What started as a small initiative with one historic ship capable of passing under the lowest bridges of Sneek has now grown into a company with multiple unique vessels, each telling its own special story. Every ship has been carefully restored to meet modern and environmentally friendly standards.
Unique and Environmentally Conscious Sailing
What could be better than admiring the canals of Sneek with all their low bridges and canal houses from a historic ship? Currently, Grachtenrondvaart Sneek operates three ships, each with a unique story to tell. In addition to our goal of preserving cultural maritime heritage, we also sail in an environmentally conscious manner! Since 2017, we have been sailing electrically, which is not only silent but also completely free of exhaust emissions. At night, our battery pack is charged with green energy, allowing us to cruise for a full day. All our ships are insured and have the necessary certifications where required.
Freight Ship "Ald Fryslân"
The "Ald Fryslân" was acquired in 2013 and restored to its former glory with expertise and attention to detail. The vessel is a "luxury motor ship" with a notably small size of 12 x 2.65 x 0.60 meters. The freight ship used to transport milk, vegetables, and mail, navigating through the smallest ditches and waterways to reach Frisian villages and towns. The ship fits perfectly into the Sneek cityscape of 1900 when the canals were filled with freight vessels.
Currently, the "Ald Fryslân" is proudly docked in front of the theater when not in service, where it has a historic mooring place. In 2023, the boat proudly received the title of "Boat of the Year"!
Barge "De Rietsnijder"
The barge "De Rietsnijder" was saved from demolition in 2017 and skillfully restored to its former glory. The barge now operates entirely electrically, making it nearly silent, efficient, and free of fossil fuel consumption. The name "De Rietsnijder" is based on the barge's past, as it used to navigate through a reed bed, where reed cutters would harvest the reeds.
New Addition: A Flat-Bottomed Coal Barge
In 2023, we launched a third ship, a flat-bottomed coal barge that can also pass under all the low bridges of Sneek. This traditional Dutch vessel is capable of navigating shallow waterways, allowing access to all the intimate spots in Sneek. In the past, the ship was used to transport vegetables and was a defining feature of numerous Dutch horticultural areas; now it sails entirely electrically through the Sneeker canals.
Meet Our Skippers
Meet our enthusiastic skippers (Frisian for "captains"). They are not only skilled sailors but also possess extensive knowledge of (historical) Sneek. They will take you on a journey through our beautiful canals, sharing their favorite stories and revealing hidden gems along the way.
Socially Responsible
Grachtenrondvaart Sneek aims to share the history of Sneek from the water through our tours. We do this in a special way with historical tour boats, responsibly preserving this cultural maritime heritage. We collaborate with local merchants, foundations, museums, and restaurants to achieve this!
Additionally, we contribute to various non-profit events, with our ships present at the opening of the Sneekweek, the rubber boat race, the Elfstedentocht on the water bike, and Tsjillen in Bolsward. We also work with FSM, the VVV, OBW canal concerts, the sawmill "De Rat" in IJlst, and invite volunteers for a boat tour. We promote Sneek by showcasing the canals from the water to celebrities, such as André van Duin and Janny van der Heijden in "Denkend aan Holland 2021." We also had the honor of guiding Maarten van der Weijden during his Elfstedenzwemtocht through the city canal and escorting him to IJlst.
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It sil wer heve: it grutste sylevenemint op Europeesk binnenwetter, yn Fryslân. ⛵️ De Sneekweek is begonnen en Commissaris van de Koning Arno Brok nam gisteravond traditioneel de vlootschouw af.
