The LVBHB (Landelijke Vereniging tot Behoud van het Historisch Bedrijfsvaartuig) or (Dutch) National Association for the Preservation of the Historical Commercial  Vessel, is a group of enthusiastic people who strive to preserve old ships built for Commercial use. Our passion is for vessels which more than 50 years ago represented Dutch glory on the German, Belgium and Dutch rivers and canals (and some even overseas into the Nordics.) These are not only cargo ships but also fishing ships, ferry-boats, “parlevinkers” (groceries peddling vessels), small work boats — we even have a member with an old bridge pontoon. In short, ships of all kind; sailing, towed or with own engine which kept the Dutch economy running. Almost all these vessels are privately owned, sometimes literally salvaged from getting scrapped. These ships are maintained without (or very minimal) subsidization but with lots of T.L.C. and knowledge.
While the full name LVBHB is quite long we are often represented as “The Dutch Historic Barge”, in Dutch: “het Historisch bedrijfsvaartuig”.
The volunteers of the LVBHB don’t only put an effort in preserving ships but as well in the knowledge over these ships and the old trades and crafts that are associated. Examples are; riveting of ship’s hull and superstructure, stitching of sails as done in the old days, blacksmith’s forging and of course the sailing and manoeuvring (handling) of these old ships. Also the maintenance of old engines has its place in the organization. “Newcomers” in the barge world  are received enthusiastically and will get advice and help if interested.
For the members of the LVBHB it is important that historic vessels, part of the mobile heritage in Holland, stay visible in the Dutch landscape. That is why the association defends the interests of its members to different governments and institutions therefore ensuring our members can continue to sail with, live on and recreate these old ships. Only by using them, will this Dutch heritage stay preserved for our posterity. This lobbying we do locally at the municipality, the water board but also national with “Rijkswaterstaat”  (Ministry of transport, public works and water management) and even international via our membership with the “European Maritime Heritage“. We do this at different levels ranging from a practical map with places to berth our type of ships up to lobby in The Hague and Brussels regarding new maritime legislation.
reunie2013The members of the association organize national and regional gatherings where they showcase their ships and old trades as well express their passion to the visitors. This enthusiasm is also visible on the website and in publications like the “Bokkepoot”, a quarterly released magazine that all members receive. The association is run completely by its members and volunteers, without any full time paid forces and no subsidization by the government.
Lobby for the interests, restoration & navigational advice and not the least, sociability. Those are the three pillars on which the LVBHB stands,  leading to an association with over 1600 members out of which about 1350 have their own ship. The emphasis at the LVBHB is on the people, not the vessels. People who have one thing in common: the appreciation for historic commercial vessels.
(English translation: Marwin Fernhout)