We are incredibly proud to cruise aboard the Jonckvrouw (Royal Lady), a truly special and historic boat. Built in 1928, this stunning vessel was once owned by the Port of Amsterdam and the Dutch government. From 1928 to 2015, it discreetly hosted presidents, mayors, and royal families, who enjoyed the canals in secret.
We’ve uncovered photos and documents that reveal its rich history, and we’re honored to share this remarkable legacy with you today.
February 1928
Blueprint of the management ship by the municipality of Amsterdam, department of commercial institutions.
Normal speed 16 km/h, length ≈ 13 meters, width mainframe ≈ 2.80 meters.
1928
The first picture of the boat in 1928 on the Amstel. The captain stayed outside while the guests sat inside.
September 1933
Blueprint of the management ship, design change. The wheelhouse is now covered.
1940-1945
To prevent seizure, the boat was hidden in a boathouse at the Enterpotdok next to Artis during the Second World War.
Boathouse behind this bridge.
November 30th, 1945
Cruise through the canal with Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, banker and philanthropist who was in control of the diamond mining company De Beers.
September 1948
The resignation of Queen Wilhelmina and inauguration queen Juliana. The princesses enjoyed a cruise through the canals. At the bottom right Princess Beatrix, later queen, and mother King Willem-Alexander.
1949/ 1950
Because there was no official car, the CEO of Port of Amsterdam regularly sailed to Schiphol, the Airport then belonged to the Port of Amsterdam.
The port management newspaper from 1983
August 21, 1951
The general of Cairo District Egypt wanted to buy the boat for 19,000 Dutch guilders (today € 95,000). The boat was in poor condition, according to a letter from the Finance Authority.
March 1, 1961
Gijsbert van Hall*, mayor of Amsterdam and Dutch resistance fighter WWII assists the mayor of Brussels, L. Cooremans.
*In 2018, the film The Resistance Banker about Gijsbert was launched.
September 30, 1963
During the Cold War, Ivan Ivanovitch Tugarin of the Soviet Union Foreign Office and later Soviet ambassador enjoyed a canal cruise with his wife, guarded by police boats.
October 31, 1968
At the end of the 40s, the boat underwent some major renovations, such as round windows next to the cabin. This last blueprint contains all the improvements that have remained unchanged to this day.
April 18, 1980
For the 3rd time the boat had to go to the yard for major maintenance. The yard carried out this project for 185,000 guilders, now about 240,000 euros, even for major maintenance a lot of money.
October 1981
De Jonckvrouw starred in a 1981 Dutch film entitled Hoge Hakken, Echte Liefde.
On the outer deck the well-known Dutch actor Rijk de Gooyer.
December 22, 1988
The municipality of Amsterdam has indicated that a new boat is needed because the maintenance costs of 33,600 guilders per year, today 40,000 euros for this management boat were far too high.
1989/ 1990
Cruises made with this boat in 1989/ 1990 a.o. President of Greece, Ambassador of Switzerland, President of Portugal, American Film Crew, Berlin Government, President of Finland, U.S. Consulate
April 3, 1992
Ed van Thijn, mayor of Amsterdam (1983-1994) celebrated his marriage to Odette with a canal cruise.
The mayor used the boat so often that she was nicknamed “Mayor’s boat”
1995
Port of Amsterdam presented their new boat. A Foundation, part of the municipality of Amsterdam, took over the old boat and renamed the boat. An agreement states that the old boat must remain available for special guests.
August 22, 2015
A secret cruise guarded by police boats with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on the saloon, and Princess Amalia on the afterdeck.
We have a guestbook with a thank you from King Willem-Alexander.
