DUTCH BARGE RALLY ‘ROUND THE FLAGS!

Every year the Dutch Barge Association hosts a rally for its member barge owners to get together, support the canals, share information and good times!  We have found curiously that mostly the following nationalities are called to the barge life: British, Irish, French, Dutch, Australian, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians.  We have met so many wonderful barge owners from all walks of life and find that we really like them!  Apart from meeting people from all these countries, we all enjoy being able to see other barges inside and out and and share insights as to the best shipyards, good portholes and most durable paint.  Every barge is unique and every barge owner has a story about how they succumbed to the barging life.  At the Rally in Vincelles, we discovered a barge with an identical hull and it was fun to see how its interior and wheelhouse were configured so differently.  We hope to attend these events every year to meet our friends, make new friends and show support for the wonderful canal network which allows us to travel so serenely in a time-honoured way.