Today, together with his colleague and fellow Urker Richard, he controls the ferry from Amsterdam Central to the Buiksloterweg. A boat ride of a few minutes, so “you shouldn’t do that every day, otherwise it will be very boring”. He would rather sail to the NDSM, so you won’t be on the road for a while.
After two decades of fishing in the North Sea and being away from home all week (“Sometimes from Monday to Saturday”), Willem decided it had been nice. He wanted to be at home more and started working at a fish processing company. But ultimately a fisherman still wants to be on the water.
“I saw an advertisement in the local newspaper,” says Willem, as we sail towards the Buiksloterweg. “I already knew that a number of Urks worked here. Then I started asking around, and then I thought: should I make a call?” He was able to come for an interview immediately and start working shortly afterwards.
Staff shortage
The GVB has been struggling with a staff shortage for years and is therefore trying to attract staff from outside Amsterdam. 32 new skippers will be hired in 2024 and another 15 in 2025, more than a dozen of whom are from Urk. In the coming years, the GVB expects to need around 30 new skippers per year.
And these shortages do not only apply to the ferry. Bus staff are aging and therefore young recruits are required. Esmeralda Buddelmeijer has been a bus driver for a year: “I knew someone who worked here and he was very positive. Before this I did everything, from delivery to catering.”
