Beurtveer 2026 — Sail Along on a 5-Day Race Without an Engine

The Beurtveer is the most challenging and unique sailing race on the IJsselmeer. Five days of sailing without an engine — day and night — past the historic harbours of the IJsselmeer. No other race in the Netherlands comes close to this experience. The Beurtveer starts on Monday from Workum and — just like the historic barge service, which arose here around 1550 and carried cargo and passengers under sail until 1920 — heads towards Amsterdam and back, calling at various harbours along the way. What makes the Beurtveer special: the engine may not be used anywhere. For five days we bring the old way of sailing back to life, purely on wind power, just as our ancestors did. The race was set up in Workum around 1975, alongside the famous Strontrace, and is organised by the Vereniging Zeilvracht. This is an intensive race for the more adventurous sailor. The crew works in watches that take turns — sailing continues through the night as well. The combination of navigation, knowledge of the tides and teamwork makes the Beurtveer an unforgettable experience. Aboard the clipper Johanna Engelina we sail the Beurtveer with a full crew of around 26 people and an experienced cook on board. Skipper Laurens and the regular crew have plenty of experience with the Beurtveer: in 2018 we finished 8th with zero engine minutes, in 2022 5th, and in 2023 and 2024 we again finished without a single engine minute. Sailing experience is an advantage but not required — you learn an enormous amount along the way. All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer and wine are included. The Beurtveer aboard the Johanna Engelina is the ultimate sailing experience on the IJsselmeer.