Life on a House Boat in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is famous for the canals that line over 60 miles of the port city’s streets, and those canals are famous for the houseboats that in turn line them. In an effort to raise their daughter nearer to nature, Mijs and her husband, Casper, decided to move into a houseboat. From the water, you are that much closer to the elements and animals alike. Life on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in CarharttLiving on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in CarharttHowever, buying a houseboat in Amsterdam is no easy task. There are only so many allotted spaces where people are allowed to set up camp. One must be lucky enough to find a current home for sale and buy their spot on the quay.

The ship this family of three has called home for the last 9 years was once a cargo boat for sand. It still functions as a seafaring vessel, but its engine has been removed. Once every 5 to 6 years, their boat is tugged to the wharf where it is inspected. There the boat is cleaned, removing all dirt and clams that have attached themselves to the bottom, and then re-painted.

“In Amsterdam it’s normal to have people living upstairs, downstairs, on both sides of you, but with our ship, we are like an island. We have one neighbor next to us, but we don’t hear each other, so that’s really nice (especially for them, because my husband loves to play the drums). When people sleep over, they say it’s the best sleep ever. We think it’s because there is no concrete underneath us, but water and mud.” -Mijs van de Griek

Life on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in CarharttLife on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt

Life on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt

Mijs is a small business owner, with 2 side jobs. She works hard, but also finds time to enjoy free time with her daughter, Runa (age 9). The family often swims in the canal during the summer and skates on the canal when it freezes over in the winter. Together, they’ve raised a duck who also calls their houseboat home. Runa helps her parents with chores, and enjoys the tasks of those who are lucky enough to reside on the canals. Life on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt

“We think Amsterdam cannot be without houseboats. It’s part of the scenery. Most of the people who live on a boat are handy people, who are kind and would love to help each other. We are a bit more independent than people who live in a ‘normal’ house, because we need to do more things.

My grandfather taught me how to build things with wood. My father taught me how electricity works and what you can do with that. And I’m a bit handy myself, so I don’t really ask people to come and make stuff at our ship, I just do it myself. I built us a cupboard. I wanted to have more light in our ship, so I’ve taken the jigsaw one day and sat on our roof and sawed two large windows in our roof. We also wanted a fireplace, so we made that ourselves as well. I’m used to fix things myself and don’t ask for help, and I kinda like that.” -Mijs van de GriekLife on a House Boat in Amsterdam / Crafted in CarharttMijs has spent much of her life on boats. Before living on one, she was a boating instructor. Like many locals, Mijs has a smaller boat the family uses on weekends to cruise the canals. This summer, they’ll set off for a two week boating adventure.

Advice from Female Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam

Two sisters from Amsterdam, Do and Tessel de Heij, turned their kitchen experiments with hops, herbs, malt, and wheat into a business—Gebrouwen door Vrouwen, which translates to “Brewed by Women.” Currently, they are gypsy brewers. They travel from one brick and mortar brewery to another to make their own beer, paying for the use of the space and equipment.

Since their founding in 2015, their products are enjoyed throughout the Netherlands. Over 600 Dutch cafes and restaurants have Gebrouwen door Vrouwen on the menu. The sisters have also expanded their reach to China, Bonaire, an island off the coast of Venezuela, and eventually Singapore.

Do and Tessel are thirsty to push their brand to a whole new level. They are currently in the middle of making their own brew pub. They’ve purchased a location in the Oud West area of Amsterdam. This up and coming location boasts diversity, full of quaint cafes and a charming neighborhood feel. If you’re interested in investing in this female-run business, read more on their crowdfunding venture. As of now, they are on track to open their doors March 1, 2019.

In the immediate future, Do and Tessel are at Troost Brewery, working on a beer called Zonnig Zeewit, made with seaweed from Zeeboerderij Ijmond. This foundation grows seaweed in the North Sea in efforts to clean up the ocean. Gebrouwen door Vrouwen will donate 10 cents for each bottle they sell of the new seaweed beer to the foundation.

Even with the major advancements Do and Tessel have made since the start of the company only 4 years ago, they are still looking toward the future. In the next 5 years, they hope to build the most sustainable brewery in Europe. To stay up to date with Gebrouwen door Vrouwen, follow their spunky, girl-powered instagram account here.

All About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt
Left: Fenna van Strien, Right: Tessel de Heij

Advice from Brewer Tessel de Heij to Starting Your Own Beer Company:

  • Just start brewing and you will be motivated by all the positive reactions from the people around you!
  • Write everything down very carefully.
  • Clean Clean Clean! One bacteria can destroy your beer.
  • It is important to be able to share your successes and failures, so bring at least 1 partner into your business.
  • The people you hire are your most important asset.
  • It is really, really hard work, so you HAVE to like what you do, otherwise you won’t be able to keep going.

All About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt

All About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt

“It is really nice to be an all women company in the beer industry, we get a lot of attention and positive feedback. People really like the ‘girl power’ vibe that comes with the brand.” –Tessel de Heij, co-founder and brewer at Gebrouwen door Vrouwen

 

All About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt“The beer industry has been booming the last years. Many craft breweries have developed and put themselves in the market. The industry, however, is still a man’s world. In Amsterdam we are still the only woman’s beer brand (as far as I know). In the country there are a few more women who started their own beer brand.” -Fenna van Strien of Gebrouwen door Vrouwen

All About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in CarharttAll About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in CarharttAll About A Group of Female Run Gypsy Brewers in Amsterdam / Crafted in Carhartt

 

Crafted in Carhartt Goes to Amsterdam!

Crafted in Carhartt recently traveled to Amsterdam to visit the Carhartt Europe office. Along the way, we gathered stories and took in the sights. This bustling city is the capital of The Netherlands and dates back to the 12th century as a small fishing village. Since its founding, the city has grown dramatically, with 165 canals stretching across the epicenter. The charming architecture creates lines that are slightly askew, caused by the buildings sinking unevenly into the wet soil beneath. Amsterdam is below sea level, after all. EMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to Amsterdam

There are more bicycles in Amsterdam than people, coming in at just over 881,000. EMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to AmsterdamEMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to AmsterdamEMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to AmsterdamOne of the most fascinating places we visited was Zaanse Schans, a functioning saw mill in a windmill. And just in case you were wondering, some of the workers do wear wooden shoes.

EMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to AmsterdamEMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to AmsterdamEMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to AmsterdamEMEA Carhartt Europe / Crafted in Carhartt Goes to Amsterdam

The Dutch are a fascinating, inventive people. They are warm and funny. They put their hearts into each venture and enjoy the outdoors. They hunt and fish and work with their hands. Thank you for welcoming us. It’s so wonderful to see how far the Carhartt family reaches.

Stay tuned in the next few weeks as we share the stories of several industrious women we were lucky enough to meet during our time there.