Around eighteen historic sailing ships call Kampen their home port — including the only four-master in the Netherlands. They moor right outside your door.
Nowhere in the Netherlands are so many historic sailing ships moored together as along the IJsselkade in Kampen. The fleet counts around eighteen vessels — tjalks, clippers, schooner brigs and even the only four-master sailing under Dutch colours. They lie moored between the Stadsbrug and Van Heutszplein, right on the quay.
From B&B 't Hanzehuys on IJsselkade 57a you look directly out over them. On a quiet morning you can see the masts rising above the quay, the water reflecting the hull, sometimes the skipper working on deck. In spring and autumn, when ships return from their summer sailing areas — the IJsselmeer, the Wadden Sea, sometimes the Baltic — the quay is at its busiest and most beautiful.
Kampen's deep connection with shipping is no coincidence. The city owed its rise as a Hanseatic town to the IJssel. It makes perfect sense that the Brown Fleet has found its base here: a city that understands what it means to live by the water.
A selection of the historic vessels that call Kampen their home port — each with its own story and character.
The Black Lady is a fully functional replica of the medieval cog — the type of vessel that made Kampen great as a Hanseatic city. Built by volunteers at the Koggenwerft on Havenweg, she occasionally sails individual trips on the IJssel (approx. 75 min., €17.50 p.p.). Our guest room is named after her.
kamperkogge.nl →The Summertime is 67 metres long, has four masts of 32 metres and an astonishing 1,025 m² of sail area. Built in 1937, she is the only four-master sailing under Dutch colours. With 40 berths she is also the largest charter ship in the Netherlands.
summertime-sailing.com →De Hester was built in 1898 as a cargo vessel and is now one of the most beautiful clippers in the fleet. At 40 metres long with an elegant silhouette, she is easy to spot on the quay. Today fitted out for multi-day sailing tours on the IJsselmeer, Markermeer and Wadden Sea.
naupar.nl →The Jannes van Campen is 29 metres long and moors just along the quay from us, at IJsselkade 64. Built in 1936 as a fishing vessel, requisitioned by the Germans, reclaimed by her owner under cover of darkness — a ship with a turbulent past. Kampen has been her home port for nearly twenty years.
rondvaartkampen.nl →Utopia was launched in 1903 and has been sailing Dutch waters ever since. At 42 metres long, with elegant lines and a striking blue hull, she is one of the most handsome ships on the quay. She offers 38 sleeping berths and takes up to 60 passengers on day trips to the Wadden Sea or IJsselmeer.
rederij-vooruit.nl →De Veerman is the only boat in Kampen where individual guests can join without a group. Skipper Gerrit Visser and Martine Tromp run cruises on fixed sailing days — ideal for a spontaneous day on the water straight from the B&B.
deveermanvankampen.nl →The Kamper Kogge is berthed at the Koggenwerft on Havenweg, within walking distance of the quay. The other ships — tjalks, clippers and schooner brigs — are moored along the IJsselkade. In winter they return from their summer sailing grounds; that is when the quay is at its liveliest. In summer most ships sail the IJsselmeer, the Wadden Sea or further along the coast.
The term Brown Fleet refers to the colour of the sails these ships once carried. Treating the sails with tanning agents — a mixture of catechu and water — protected them against moisture and rot. The result: a characteristic brown hue. Hence the name.
The ships themselves are the descendants of the cargo, fishing and inland waterway vessels of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. After the Second World War they lost their commercial purpose. Many were at risk of being scrapped. A group of enthusiasts saved them and converted them into charter vessels.
In 2024 the profession of Brown Fleet skipper was officially recognised as intangible cultural heritage of the Netherlands — an acknowledgement of the craft passed down through generations of sailors.
From Kampen you can book day trips, week-long arrangements and multi-day voyages. The skippers know the river and the sea inside out. With a group of friends, family or colleagues you sail towards the IJsselmeer, the Wadden Sea or the lakes of Friesland.
Want to sleep on board too? Several ships offer overnight accommodation — from two to four-berth cabins. Combine that with a stay at 't Hanzehuys for the days around your voyage.
Booking and information:
During your stay we are happy to give personal advice on the best option for your group.
Book a night at 't Hanzehuys and look out each morning from your room at the masts above the IJsselkade. Perhaps the skipper of the Summertime is lighting her stove.
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