Climate and the environment have been hot topics for decades. Despite many promises  and measures, we still see signs that things are not going well. Excessive energy consumption leads to problems that can only be solved with drastic measures. New forms of alternative energy are constantly being tried out. We use one of the oldest forms of sustainable energy to propel our ship, namely wind energy.

Sailing vessel
The Catharina van Mijdrecht has always been a sailing ship, and was originally used to transport cargo. Unfortunately, in our modern times, sailing cargo shipping is no longer feasible. It is often too slow, the wind is not always optimal, and it can be quite labour-intensive. But in today’s recreational shipping, especially these points are hardly of importance. Slowing down, surrendering to the elements and getting the job done together are the key words on board. And all this within two hours of your home and workplace. The journey to Monnickendam can also be made sustainably, by public transport or coach.

Living with and within nature

On board the Catharina van Mijdrecht we live with and within nature. We depend on it and notice it immediately when things go wrong. We therefore try to take the environment into account as much as possible. For example, wherever possible, we use natural alternatives for the maintenance of the ship. Most of the paints and varnish we use is based on vegetable linseed oil. We also use it to combat rust. All the wood we use comes from sustainably managed forests, and is reused as much as possible during renovations.

Low energy consumption
The energy consumption on board is low; on average, we use around 10 litres of diesel per day for the engine, hot water, heating and power generation. In addition, we still get about 5 KWh per day from shore power units. We also use drinking water sparingly; we flush the toilets with outdoor water and have installed a water-saving shower. We also give our guests tips for saving water. On average, water consumption is less than 600 litres per day; all this with 20 to 40 people on board.

Fresh regional products
When catering, we prepare all our meals directly on board, with fresh produce and without unnecessary additives. We only serve sustainably farmed or caught fish and use as much animal-friendly produced meat as possible. All our products are purchased regionally. If desired, we will make you a quotation with only organic products.

A green future
We will continue to invest in sustainability for the future. For example, we are drawing the attention of the port authorities to the need for separate waste disposal for recyclables ,and we are working on a system for responsible wastewater disposal.