Half of what Richard Wigbout, Ron van der Meulen and Pierre Talloen have collected so far through an online collection for the renovation of the Wieringer Postboot, they also received this week during the Flora and Fisheries Days: 1,000 euros. “Now we can continue with the renovation,” says Richard Wigbout.
The mail boat has a special history. When Wieringen was still an island, mail was brought to and from the Wieringers by mail boat from 1911 onwards. In addition to mail, passengers, livestock and goods were also transported between Van Ewijcksluis and De Haukes. After the construction of the Amsteldiepdijk, this boat became redundant. He made the last crossing in 1926.
But maybe in a few years you will be able to get on the mail boat again. If it were up to the trio of Richard Wigbout, Ron van der Meulen and Pierre Talloen, the boat would be restored to perfect condition. That requires a lot of money. Through an online fundraising campaign (‘every little bit helps’) almost 2,000 euros has already been raised. During the past Flora and Fisheries Days, the mail boat was also moored on the quay. People could sail along and there was a donation jar on the boat for the mail boat. To Wigbout’s surprise, they raised no less than 1,000 euros.
“We are now back at De Haukes and are continuing with the first work, such as completely removing the paneling at the back,” says Wigbout. They still have a lot of work ahead of them. “It could take years before we are ready. Our goal is to have the boat sailing again in 2026. Then it will be 100 years since the mail boat last sailed.”
Old route
He continues: “We think it would be nice if, in collaboration with the municipality, we could ensure that the mail boat sails the old route again. So that you can sail between Van Ewijcksluis and Wieringen in the season, and that we can use the boat out of season. For example, for parties, weddings, but also for scattering ashes. That would be great, wouldn’t it?”