Skipper stories
Berkelland, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Cycling route: 336226
Provided by: Groots Genieten
27.1 km
01:35 h
477 kcal
32 m
Description
About colonial wares and silver sand
The Achterhoek was connected to Germany and the nearby trading cities of Zutphen and Deventer via a network of'schipbeken\\\'. There were country roads, but they were often difficult to pass. So a lot of transport was by water. Zompen were built especially for these shallow streams: barges with a flat bottom. The main products upstream were peat, gin and colonial goods. Downstream, the cargo mainly consisted of silver sand (for the floor), wood and pottery.
Jappe
The nickname of Gerrard Wolfs, a short and fat man, who has gone down in history as the very last Berkel skipper. Around 1890 he transported many barrels of petroleum, barrels of gin and also silver sand. The silver sand came from the Vreden area and was used by the housewives to sprinkle over the floors of their kitchens once a week. But it was not only used as a floor covering, gold and silversmiths also benefited from it.
Rough guys, loose hands
The Berkel skippers had the reputation of being rough guys, whose hands were quite loose, but also of being cheerful drunkards, who liked to go through life singing. But that image hardly corresponded to reality. It was different, it was a hard and uncertain existence on the barely navigable Berkel. The barge often had to be pulled with human power, because only at high tide and a fair wind could the swamps sail, the strongly meandering Berkel was not suitable for that.
The Achterhoek was connected to Germany and the nearby trading cities of Zutphen and Deventer via a network of'schipbeken\\\'. There were country roads, but they were often difficult to pass. So a lot of transport was by water. Zompen were built especially for these shallow streams: barges with a flat bottom. The main products upstream were peat, gin and colonial goods. Downstream, the cargo mainly consisted of silver sand (for the floor), wood and pottery.
Jappe
The nickname of Gerrard Wolfs, a short and fat man, who has gone down in history as the very last Berkel skipper. Around 1890 he transported many barrels of petroleum, barrels of gin and also silver sand. The silver sand came from the Vreden area and was used by the housewives to sprinkle over the floors of their kitchens once a week. But it was not only used as a floor covering, gold and silversmiths also benefited from it.
Rough guys, loose hands
The Berkel skippers had the reputation of being rough guys, whose hands were quite loose, but also of being cheerful drunkards, who liked to go through life singing. But that image hardly corresponded to reality. It was different, it was a hard and uncertain existence on the barely navigable Berkel. The barge often had to be pulled with human power, because only at high tide and a fair wind could the swamps sail, the strongly meandering Berkel was not suitable for that.
The Achterhoek is an ideally beautiful region for cyclists and walkers. Explore this beautiful region by bike or on foot in a special way: with your smartphone. With the AbelLife app you can enjoy interesting anecdotes, videos, photos and fun tips for on the road. The app shows you the way and along the way you will learn more about historical sights, the nature around you and nice catering addresses in the area.
Would you like to try that?
Then download the AbelLife app and download a separate route or purchase a route booklet from one of the tourist information offices in the Achterhoek and use the voucher code at the front of the booklet. More information can be found at www.achterhoek.nl/routes or at www.abellife.nl
Height Profile
You do not want to miss this
Below you will find various suggestions for breaks that you can visit during your route. These are divided into different categories, making it easy for you to choose.
Directions
| # | Description | Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallumse Molenweg, 7152AV, Berkelland, Gelderland, The Netherlands | 0.00 km | ||
66 | 66 (7152KM, Berkelland, Gelderland, The Netherlands) | 0.61 km | |
18 | 18 (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) | 14.18 km | |
74 | 74 (Zuid Rekkenseweg, 7157BL, Berkelland, Gelderland, The Netherlands) | 17.56 km | |
71 | 71 (7157AJ, Berkelland, Gelderland, The Netherlands) | 17.93 km | |
70 | 70 (7157BB, Berkelland, Gelderland, The Netherlands) | 18.82 km |
Place name directory
Reviews
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