In 1988 this ferry had his last departure between Zijpe and Anna Jacobpolder (NL) The last 20 years the boat has been rotting away waiting for a new owner. Begin 2008 the boat was sold and there were plans to reconvert the boat but the same day the papers were signed, the boat sank 6 metres deep in the harbour of Antwerp.


The Willemsburg stranded in the flood disaster. Photo B Hofmeester.

In the early years the boat was set to work as a ferry in het Hollands Diep under the name Willemsdorp. After the Moerdijk bridges were build the ferry was moved to Kruiningen. In 1953 during the flood disaster in Holland, the boat was taken by the flood and got stuck 3 kilometres inland.

In 1972 the engine of the steam driven ferry was replaced by a fuel engine and also the housing was replaced. The name was changed to Zijpe and the ferry was moored in this village to do his service between Zijpe and Anna Jacobapolder.




The boat as steam engine and after the transformation. Photos: Willem JJ Boot.

After three attempts the sunken ship was brought to the surface again. One week later the ship was demolished by a demolition firm in Gent.

1930 - 1936 Willemsdorp - Moerdijk, until opening Moerdijkbrug
1936 - 1945 Shut down
1945 - 1948 Willemsdorp - Moerdijk ( Moerdijkbrug bombed in the WWII)
1948 - 1988 Anna Jacobapolder – Zijpe, until opening Philipsdam
1988 - 2007 Sold to Antwerpen for a ferry service that never started.
2008 demolished.

Thanks to W. Langes and Willem J.J. Boot