From October 11 to 13, 2026, the Wetering in Oude Wetering will once again be the premier mooring place for historic ships. Together with an exhibition in the Weteringzaal of the De Spreng multifunctional center, a temporary museum harbor will be available again during those days.

Historic harbor

Historic ships can be admired at the quay along Kerkstraat in Oude Wetering from October 11 to 13, 2026, between De Spreng (Kerkstraat 50) and the former Bouwcenter (Kerkstraat 111).

On the Dutch page you can see which ships there are.

Exhibition

De Spreng (Kerkstraat 50) is hosting an exhibition on waterborne trade. You can also watch the start of the Strontrace via a livestream at De Spreng on the afternoon of Monday, October 12. De Spreng is open on Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

On Sunday, October 11, an old steam engine will be on display near the former Bouwcenter De Wetering. Additionally, you can view several small, vintage steam engines aboard the Terra Nova.

Kerkstraat used to be a major shopping street. Thanks to shipping traffic on the adjacent Wetering canal, the area bustled with activity, attracting many shops. But which shops were actually located there, and what could you buy? A special exhibition allows you to discover the retail history of the Kerkstraat. Posters in the windows show where the shops used to be and the products that were sold there—a piece of local history that brings the street back to life!

Strontrace

For many years, the Wetering in Oude Wetering has served as a designated stop—known as the "pickle stop"—during the Strontrace sailing competition, in which participants sail from Workum (Friesland) to Warmond and back using only wind and muscle power. In Oude Wetering, participants collect a jar of pickles and sign a bill of lading.

As in previous years, the museum harbor is part of the Strontrace—an event in which Rob Ligtenberg, a resident of Leimuiden who passed away in 2024, was an avid participant. Rob initiated the museum harbor project in 2023, and the harbor is organized annually in his memory. In 2023—during his final race—Rob won first prize in the Open Class with his skûtsje (traditional Frisian sailing barge), Nooit Volmaakt. Additionally, in June 2024, an information board detailing local maritime history was unveiled at De Plantage in Oude Wetering, honoring Rob’s wish to keep that history alive.

Want to know who is participating in the 2026 Strontrace? Visit:

Deelnemers_Beurt_Stront – Vereniging Zeilvracht

You can watch the start of the Strontrace via a live stream at De Spreng (Kerkstraat 50) on the afternoon of Monday, October 12.