June 2, 2017 · Team HG
Ineke de Boer from café De Sleutel wants to use the Groningen flagship, the Voorwaarts Voorwaarts, as a floating restaurant. Condition: the municipality must approve a permanent mooring spot near the café.
Think of it as a rescue operation for the old kofjalk from 1899, which was taken out of service at the end of March. The ship, which in recent years was primarily used by companies and organizations to provide clients with an enjoyable day out, was becoming less and less popular. As a result, revenues were far too low to fund the massive maintenance overhaul costing a hundred thousand pounds that the ship faces.
The board of the Voorwaarts Voorwaarts foundation threw in the towel, and since then the ship has been lying idle in the Oosterhaven in Groningen.
Operator De Sleutel sees new purpose as salvation for kofjalk
A terrible shame, says former chairman and former shipyard owner Gerard Speld. The 80-year-old Speld devised a survival plan and approached hospitality entrepreneur Ineke de Boer (63) of café De Sleutel and catering company ’s Amuse to, who also has a love for ships.
If it were up to them, the Voorwaarts Voorwaarts would be moored at the Hoge der A, near De Sleutel. "The engine would then go into mothballs, the toilets could be connected to the sewage system, and the power would come from the shore," says Speld enthusiastically. "With a nice terrace on the boat and some terrace chairs on the shore, Ineke de Boer could operate the ship from her café."
De Boer is positive about the rescue plan. "With a permanent berth close to De Sleutel, that is perfectly doable for us. Right in front of the door isn't possible, it's too narrow there, but just after the bridge is a great spot. It would be really nice to have a bit of activity in the neighborhood. We don't want to bear the responsibility for the ship, but we do want to contribute to the costs. Who knows, with our contribution, the ship might even be able to sail again in a few years – when the market picks up a bit." But a permanent berth at the municipality's expense is crucial to the plan. "We don't know yet what the municipality thinks of it, but hopefully there is an understanding that otherwise, as Groningen, we will lose this beautiful ship," says Speld. "And that must not happen. This monument must be preserved for the city."
Alderman Joost van Keulen stated from his holiday address that he is not yet familiar with the latest plans for the flagship, but is always open to good initiatives. "It sounds like a nice plan, but in order to respond, a few things need to be sorted out first," he says.
Author: Anita Pepping
Source: Dagblad vh Noorden
