Wednesday 23 Sept Volendam

Written by Jack van Ommen on September 23rd, 2009

I had a break from engine work. A head gasket has to come from England. Evelyn stopped by and we drove to Volendam. We dropped off the 140% Genova sail for repairs at Schokker in Volendam. Had lunch at the Hotel Spaander. This is a landmark and an oasis hidden in all the tourist traps on the harbor front. The intent of the owner, when the hotel was built in the early 19th century, was to attract painters. He built a  painter’s atelier and then sent letters to the art institutes all over the world inviting artists to the hotel. This attracted painters like Renoir but also the rich and famous, Liz Taylor, Clark Gable, etc. The walls are covered with originals of mainly Volendammmers in their traditional costumes. The “Groote Beer”  is moored right in the main harbor of Volendam. I took the below picture of this botter yacht that was part of the Seattle yachting scene between 1973 and 1982 and in the USA from 1953 till 2001. It was known as the “Goering” yacht. I discovered in the eighties that my uncle had built the spars and supplied the blocks for the “Groote Beer” , in 1944, and I became very involved in searching the origins and history of it. You can read all about it at  https://cometosea.us/albums/GrooteBeer.htm 

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1 Comments so far ↓

  1. Connie Motz says:

    Hi Mr. Van Ommen,
    I’m a staff writer with MarineFuel.com and have been assigned to write an article on the de Groote Beer.
    Would you grant me permission to use your photo above in the article?
    Thank you very much for your time,
    Connie