You can admire the sailing ship ‘Ziet Op U Zelven’, or ZOUZ for short, in the marina of the East Flemish town of Lokeren this weekend. Owner Luc Honsia from Mechelen tells how he restored one of the oldest sailing sailing ships in Belgium.
The ZOUZ was built in 1884 in the Dutch town of Alblasserdam. “Typical of this ship is that the wooden mountain timber or bumper around the ship has been preserved. The ship has one mast from which it can carry four sails,” outlines Honsia (pictured right).
Chairmakers
In 1912, the ship was sold to the Boender family from Puttershoek in the Netherlands, who gave it its current name. The ship regularly sailed for the reed and rushes company ‘De Geus’. There, it functioned as a vessel when cutting reeds and rushes. In season, the cargo also consisted of sugar beets and potatoes. It was also used to transport dried rush in the Netherlands as well as in Belgium. “Because rushes were also unloaded in Lokeren and Mechelen for local chair manufacturers,” Honsia clarifies. In 1923, the sails gave way to an engine.
The ship continued to carry cargo until 1969, after which it was saved from scrapping by artist Ben Hoezen and refitted with sails, masts and swords. It began a new life in early charter shipping. By 1985, the ship had become too small for the standards of charter shipping and was sold. The new owner remodelled the interior and took it to the Mediterranean.
Restoration
Honsia bought the ship in 1996 and restored it to its historic state with sails according to the oldest existing plans from 1912. He was brought up on life on the water with a father who competed in the Olympics in the discipline of canoeing.
“The ship was neglected and it took me no less than ten years to renovate it. Because of the many bridges in our country, I can only motor here. To see the sails flapping, I have to sail in the Netherlands.”
The cargo space has been transformed into a cosy living space equipped with all comforts. Since 2014, the ship has been classified as a ‘Protected Sailing Monument’. That honour falls to only a few dozen sailing vessels in our country.
The ‘ZOUZ’ can still be admired on the Durme near the Josephine Charlotte Park until Sunday.
