Veerdienst to Kinderdijk (Netherlands)

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Took this picture on my way back. The shuttle boat service is open until 12 midnight.

Veerdienst means Shuttle Boat Service. In most countries they are known as ferry boats that transports passengers and cars from point A to point B. The distance between point A and point B is usually considered significant and critical thus the ferry boat service comes into the picture.

In the Netherlands though most veerdiensten or shuttle boat services are used to connect towns and villages. They are used to crossover. The distance between point A and point B can be just a few hundred metres and these boats travel many times in an hour, back and forth. A one-way trip could take only a few minutes.

Last month I went to Kinderdijk and my GPS sent me via Krimpen a/d Lek, which is a short cut route to Kinderdijk that requires taking the shuttle boat service between the towns on the Lek River. I thought it was cool to get on the boat for a quick crossover.

It is interesting to note that the history of this boat service between Kinderdijk and Krimpen a/d Lek go back to as early as the 1300s.

This brought me to mind of my visit to Venice. Instead of hiring a gondolier for the must gondola ride, girlfriend and I boarded a traghetto which is also a gondola but used as a public transport by locals to cross over. A handy way of hopping to the next quarter. Now this applies to Kinderdijk and Krimpen a/d Lek as well!

By the way the Lek River is the river that divides the north and south Netherlands. Locals living above the river often refer to the locals in the south as people from 'onder de rivier' (under the river).

The Netherlands is a small country but its amazing to see the cultural differences between the north and the south. Thanks to my job that brings me to every corner of the country, I am able to experience first hand the many and interesting cultural diversities. Amazing! I guess this story deserves a post, another post I mean. Soon.

Travel Period: February 2012
Destination: Kinderdijk (South Holland), The Netherlands

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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Welcome to my world! After years in the fast-paced tech world, I am now in my 50s and embracing a slower pace of life in the Dutch countryside. This diary is a collection of my favorite things: the joy of country home life, my new journey into gardening, and my lifelong passion for travel. Whether I am nurturing my garden, nesting at home, or exploring places locally and abroad, I am documenting it all. Come on in. I hope you enjoy your stay!

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