De Oome Kees

The motor launch De Oome Kees, originally built in 1934 as Janny at shipyard De Vlijt in Aalsmeer, is a fine example of early 20th-century leisure boating. This 7-metre steel launch was commissioned by flower merchant Jacob Verbeek and named after his daughter.

Fitted with a Ford-A petrol engine and comfortable features such as wicker chairs and a teak bathing ladder, she was used as a family boat for many years. After Verbeek’s passing, ownership passed to his son Kees, and later to his nephew Arnold van Dobben. As a tribute, the boat was renamed De Oome Kees and restored to her original condition.

She is a member of the Oude Glorie association and regularly appears at maritime events. In 2014, she returned to her original yard during the Feadship Heritage gathering. De Oome Kees even inspired the design of today’s Rotterdam water taxis. At over eighty years old, this unique vessel remains a living piece of floating heritage.