It looks fairytale-like. Attached to two rowing boats and a fleet of kayaks, the lights sailed across the Amstel from the boathouse of the Michiel de Ruyter rowing and canoeing club to the Thamerkerk. Decked out in Christmas clothes, members of the local rowing and canoeing club Michiel de Ruyter sail a few kilometers across the river. They are doing that for the first time this year.
“I actually have no idea how many people there are in total, because people registered at the last minute,” says one of the organizers, Ingeborg Veltman. “And I’m very happy with that because we really came up with this spontaneously.”
Fireworks and singing
In any case, the trip did not go unnoticed. Walkers who take a walk along the water in the dark see the fleet sailing by while singing. Fire arrows are even set off when the boats pass. “We are a very creative association, so we said it should be something with a crazy hat and lights, and now everyone is here!”
They don’t know exactly how many people are on the sidelines, but that’s not what the participants care about, says Ingeborg. “We’re already having fun, actually, and that’s what it’s all about, right?”