Years ago before the building of the Afsluitdijk a ferry connection between two cities in the north and west was trafficking people and goods back and forth. The two boats used for that were sisterships the steamships "C Bosman" and "R. van Hasselt". Both ships are now laid up side by side in the harbor of Lelystad. The Bosman is owned by a foundation, just like the St. Claire, the Van Hasselt is owned by Jan van Seumeren, one of the two owners [[the other being his brother Frans) of Mammoet transport.


Yes THAT Mammoet. It's a salvage and transport company which is most famous as the ones that lifted the submarine Kursk from the bottom of the ocean.

In other words, these ships have financial backer with epic proportions. Van Seumeren is not only planning to restore his own ship, the C. Bosman will also recieve his backing. Van Seumeren really has a passion for the sea, and these vessels in particular.

The two ship are totally identical. Build around 1916 and were capable of reaching a speed of 22 km/h. They were runnning according a time schedule and never were late in their carreer. Both had a capacity of 800 passengers. The Bosman was taken out of service in 1956, the Van Hasselt followed three years later.