Trekschuit

Trekschuit (ˈtrɛksxœyt, literally "tug-boat", but true meaning "tugged-boat") is an old style of sail- and horse-drawn boat specific to the Netherlands, where it was used for centuries as a means of passenger traffic between cities along trekvaarten, or tow-canals. The first trekschuit 'sailed' in 1632 between Amsterdam and Haarlem and could carry 30 passengers. The trekvaart or canal was dug in a straight line to facilitate an easy pulling process and 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. In 1668 the first evening service was announced in the Haarlems Dagblad, enabling daily commuting to the growing metropolis of Amsterdam, which was becoming by that time more and more necessary for the (depressed) Haarlem economy: July 10th, 1668 Mits desen werdt een yegelijck bekent gemaeckt, dat van dese Weeck een aenvangh is gemaeckt met het varen van een Treckschuyt van Amsterdam op Haerlem, 's Avondts ten 8 Uren, en dat daer in vervolgens alle Dagen sal werden gecontinueert. Translation: Hereby announcing that this week a start has been made with a Treckschuyt evening service from Amsterdam to Haarlem, at 8 o'clock in the evening, and from now on this shall be continued every day. By 1700 an extensive 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 km/h, 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 United States. The boats were pulled along by horse on a towpath (in Dutch called jaagpad, named after the jager (chaser) which accompanied the horse).