Trekschuit
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Trekschuit, literal translation 'tugboat', is an old style of barge common in the Netherlands for centuries as a means of passenger traffic between cities along 'trekvaarts', or pull-canals. The Dutch train lines today follow many old pull-canal systems that were once busy trekschuit routes. In 2007 the old trekschuit route Leiden-Haarlem canal (Leidsevaart) will celebrate its 350th birthday.
History
The first trekschuit 'sailed' in 1632 between Amsterdam and Haarlem and could carry 30 passengers. The 'trekvaart' or canal was dug especially in a straight line to guarantee the shortest route. The passengers needed to step out and change boats in Halfweg, which means 'halfway'. This is how the town of Halfweg was formed. Because of the enormous success of this Haarlemmertrekvaart, the service was extended from Haarlem to Leiden in 1657. 40 years later later an ingenious network of trekschuit- and ferry services linked all of the important cities in the coastal provinces of the Netherlands. Travel by trekschuit was reliable, comfortable and cheap. The speed was about 7 kilometers per hour, which was faster than walking, and more comfortable than by coach. Many foreigners praised the advantages of the system, leading to the introduction of canals such as the Erie canal in the US. The boats were pulled along by horse on the 'jaagpad', the towpath, and the horse was accompanied by a 'jager', the tower.
In Samuel Johnson's Life of Herman Boerhaave, the legend of Boerhaave and Spinoza is related that supposedly took place in 1688 or 1689, when Boerhaave graduated from Leiden University. This makes mention of the trekschuit as a 'common boat':
"As Boerhaave was sitting in a common boat, there arose a conversation among the passengers, upon the impious and pernicious doctrine of Spinosa, which, as they all agreed, tends to the utter overthrow of all religion. Boerhaave sat, and attended silently to this discourse for some time, till one of the company, willing to distinguish himself by his zeal, instead of confuting the positions of Spinosa by argument, began to give a loose to contumelious language, and virulent invectives, which Boerhaave was so little pleased with, that, at last, he could not forbear asking him, whether he had ever read the author he declaimed against.
The orator, not being able to make much answer, was checked in the midst of his invectives, but not without feeling a secret resentment against the person who had, at once, interrupted his harangue, and exposed his ignorance.
This was observed by a stranger who was in the boat with them; he inquired of his neighbour the name of the young man, whose question had put an end to the discourse, and having learned it, set it down in his pocket-book, as it appears, with a malicious design, for in a few days it was the common conversation at Leyden, that Boerhaave had revolted to Spinosa. "
Passenger boat traffic in the Netherlands today
The rise of the steam locomotive in the 19th century caused the decline of the trekschuit between the major cities as a form of transport and today many of the oldest canals in congested parts of the country are defunct and no longer kept navigable by the Water board.
During WWII, a brief revival of the trekschuit occurred because of the scarcity of fuel for motorized transport. Since then, in Amsterdam the trekschuit has given way to the museum boat and canal cruises used exclusively by tourists. In the provinces, where the infrastructure has not been superceded by trains or highways, the old trekschuit canals are popular for Water tourism and many cities and towns are installing boat landings built specifically for pleasure boating. Restored trekschuits are chic venues for weddings or other day parties in the summer, while larger antique barges are transformed into traveling hotels offering cycling vacations.