How it all started...
How it all started...
The owners of Van Dam Shipping are Ankie and Jan van Dam. Both were born in Oudewater on a small canal, the ‘Hollandse Ijssel’, which runs between Gouda and Utrecht and runs into Rotterdam.
Jan van Dam learned his father’s trade on the Carolina, a sand and gravel boat. He transported sand and gravel from the bottom of the river with the ship’s own crane. Unfortunately his father fell ill and they had to come ashore. He died when Jan was nine years old.
Ankie van Dam grew up on a dairy farm. Her father also traded in animals in Oudewater.
Jan van Dam learned his father’s trade on the Carolina, a sand and gravel boat. He transported sand and gravel from the bottom of the river with the ship’s own crane. Unfortunately his father fell ill and they had to come ashore. He died when Jan was nine years old.
Ankie van Dam grew up on a dairy farm. Her father also traded in animals in Oudewater.
Jan van Dam grew up on a small 200 ton ship. He later attended nautical college and climbed his way up from chef, to sailor, to captain on a river ship. As a twenty year old he was at the helm of a 1000 ton tanker. At the age of twenty one he sailed on the first new tanker of the shipyard, weighing in at 3000 ton. During that period he saw all of Europe’s rivers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. After all these years, van Dam still feels he owes a debt of gratitude to the owners of the ships, as he was trusted to sail these modern ships at such a young age.
Jan van Dam faced a new challenge in 1989. He started as a sailor on the MS Oldenhove, a ship with a captain owner, but he managed to work his way up to helmsman with dispensation within a short space of time.
He then decided to go back to school in Rotterdam and achieved his SKA within 8 months and started work as helmsman at the MS Feran.
Jan and Ankie van Dam married on 21st June 1991. They bought the MS Feran in August of that same year and changed its name to MS Carolina, after Jan’s mother. The ship was a 1280 ton deadweight.
Ankie van Dam came on board and together they sailed throughout the whole of North West Europe from Iceland to the Mediterranean. Elise was born on 5th August 1992, followed by Jan on 18th July 1994 and Harm on 5th January 1996.
He then decided to go back to school in Rotterdam and achieved his SKA within 8 months and started work as helmsman at the MS Feran.
Jan and Ankie van Dam married on 21st June 1991. They bought the MS Feran in August of that same year and changed its name to MS Carolina, after Jan’s mother. The ship was a 1280 ton deadweight.
Ankie van Dam came on board and together they sailed throughout the whole of North West Europe from Iceland to the Mediterranean. Elise was born on 5th August 1992, followed by Jan on 18th July 1994 and Harm on 5th January 1996.
Jan and Ankie van Dam acquired their first new 2500 ton deadweight ship and called her Elise.
Their daughter Leonie was born on 5th June 1997. Of course they were over the moon, because a new daughter meant a new ship.
The MS Carolina was sold in 1998 and the MS Elise’s sister was commissioned and renamed MS Leonie.
The van Dam family bought a house in Spijk in 1998 as Elise had to go to school. Ankie also went on shore. This was one of the most difficult things Jan had ever experienced – it was as if though the engine had been taken out of his ship.
Their daughter Leonie was born on 5th June 1997. Of course they were over the moon, because a new daughter meant a new ship.
The MS Carolina was sold in 1998 and the MS Elise’s sister was commissioned and renamed MS Leonie.
The van Dam family bought a house in Spijk in 1998 as Elise had to go to school. Ankie also went on shore. This was one of the most difficult things Jan had ever experienced – it was as if though the engine had been taken out of his ship.
The building of the 3250 ton deadweight MS Susanne was started in January 2004, on the occasion of the birth of van Dam’s third daughter. The MS Susanne was built especially for Lake Saima in Finland, which most of the van Dam ships sail on.
A new ship was ordered in 2005, the MS Andrea, a sister ship of the MS Susanne.
A new ship was ordered in 2005, the MS Andrea, a sister ship of the MS Susanne.
Van Dam opened an office in Delfzijl in March 2006 and took on Harry Veenma. Veenma had worked as an engineer and had worked in a shipyard for 25 years. At Van Dam Shipping he is responsible for on shore technical support. He is also responsible, together with Marcel Altena for the ISM Management activities.
Colleague captain owner Egbert Bos lets Van Dam Shipping look after the ISM activities for his MV Anet.
Colleague captain owner Egbert Bos lets Van Dam Shipping look after the ISM activities for his MV Anet.
In June 2007 Yvonne Veenma and Wim Riepma joined the club to expand the club.Yvonne is for the bookkeeping, crewing and everything else that needs to be done in the office. Wim is our companydriver. Also the office moved to Handelskade West. A beautiful place in the harber of Delfzijl.
In 2007, the company expands with 4 news ships.
The MV Ankie and MV Leonie. Both build bij Peters Shipyard. In Februari 2008 the MV Carolina was ready for sailing.
The MV Lianne and MV Elise are build in Turkey. Since 26 of May, the MV Sylvia is delivered and will join our company from now.
This is a 26 year history of hard work by Jan, Ankie, their 7 children and their crew. It is a fantastic profession with a great deal of freedom which takes you to places other people go on holiday. The ship’s crew needs to be a good team and tackle the job together. That’s exactly what Van Dam Shipping does!