And just like that, we’ve transitioned from autumn straight into winter. Have you had to scrape your windshield in the early morning yet? Inconvenient, of course, but it also means the season of coziness, enchanting lights, drinks, traditions, and holidays has arrived. In this newsletter, we take you on a journey through all these winter scenes and once again celebrate 25 years of Rederij Belle – read along and sail with us!
Experience the magic
Het Amsterdam Light Festival is ieder jaar weer een magisch spektakel – maar vanaf het water is het écht adembenemend. Stap aan boord van een van onze salonboten en ontdek de lichtkunstwerken zoals ze bedoeld zijn: van dichtbij en in alle rust. Soms vaart u zelfs dwárs door een kunstwerk heen!
This unique winter event illuminating Amsterdam’s historic city center runs from November 27, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and this year’s theme is ‘Legacy’. These artworks tell stories, challenge you to reflect, or simply enchant with their beauty.
Would you like to experience this magic, stylishly and completely exclusive for your own group? Whether you’re coming with family, friends, or colleagues – it will be an unforgettable evening. Let yourself be carried away by light, water, and stories, and experience the festival as only Rederij Belle can offer.
In IJmuiden and Haarlem: the one and only present boat!
In recent weeks, we had the great honor of bringing Sinterklaas across the water to the arrival ceremonies in Haarlem and IJmuiden. And what a celebration it was! From afar, we saw the quays fill with thousands of children, singing, waving, and eagerly scanning the horizon. When the one and only Gift Boat came around the bend, cheers erupted – a goosebump moment.
Onboard was an adventure too. The helpers were busy with presents, drawings, and of course keeping a close eye on things to make sure nothing would go wrong, because as we know: something always goes slightly off plan in the lead-up to gift night. On our Gift Boat, it was limited to a few stray ginger nuts and a helper who lost his hat. Fortunately, we didn’t need an emergency package.
On to gift night – and who knows, maybe next year the good saint will sail with us again!
A milestone worth celebrating
Early November was a big celebration at Rederij Belle: the 25th anniversary was celebrated with a gathering of all employees (past and present) and our most loyal customers and business partners. Despite it being a Monday evening, the Oosthal was well filled. There was dancing, catching up, speeches, and enjoying the delicious appetizers and drinks provided by our key partners. Three cheers and a heartfelt thank you to Asli Indonesia, Grapes & Barrels, Van Barneveld Culinair, van de Kaart, and Siere Cateraars.
25 years of Rederij Belle – Big dreams, unexpected waves
In our anniversary series, we’ve arrived at the years 2007 and 2008 – a period when the shipping company looked ahead with confidence, not knowing what was about to happen in the world.
They were good years. Our salon boats were fully booked, and the sailing clippers Hoge Wier and Twee Gebroeders sailed out almost daily. The harbor in Muiden provided not only a berth for the clippers but also an office for Rederij Belle with even a small ice cream parlor on the Herengracht, right by the lock. It felt like everything was falling into place.
And as it goes when things are going well, the dreams began to grow bigger. Alfred and Sacha fantasized about the next step: a really large salon boat, a ship that could accommodate even more guests. That opportunity seemed to come when they were invited to look at the SS Bosman, a majestic passenger ship that had once served as a salon steamer on the Zuiderzee. But after thorough investigation, the ship turned out to be simply too large. The negotiations for taking over Stoomschip Succes also ultimately came to nothing.
In hindsight, that turned out to be a blessing.
Because in September 2008, everything changed. News of the fall of Lehman Brothers spread around the world. From one day to the next, it went silent. The phone barely rang anymore. Inquiries stopped coming. The financial crisis was a reality.
2009 became a year of persevering, improvising, and keeping your head above water. But just as water always gets moving again, so did the market slowly return. In 2011, bookings began to cautiously pick up, and a year later, they dared to look forward again.
In 2012, they were even able to make a modest but meaningful expansion: the purchase of the small salon boat Emma, a charming addition that has since welcomed many guests.
How does the story continue? You’ll read that in our next newsletter!
Be inspired by the vastness of the water
Whether you opt for a salon boat on the Vecht or in Amsterdam, or prefer to take to the open waters of the Markermeer, sailing or motoring, Rederij Belle arranges it perfectly.
Contact us for a customized program.