Klaas Smit
Thursday, August 15, 2024
HOLLUM – A wreath was laid on Wednesday evening in memory of the drowned horses of Ameland. The drama took place exactly 45 years ago, when eight horses drowned during a rescue operation. The Hollum rescue boat was pulled out to sea by these horses under harsh conditions, a task that was normally carried out by six horses. During this rescue operation, intended to help a German yacht in distress, the horses were swept away by the strong current and drowned.
The event received a lot of attention at the time and led to a critical look at the use of horses in such dangerous circumstances. Despite this criticism, the Lifeguard Society continued to use horses for rescue operations until 1988. In that year, a modern, fast rescue boat was introduced, putting an end to the use of horses. Today, the horse-drawn rescue boat on Ameland is a tourist attraction. The Stichting Paardenreddingboot Ameland organizes annual demonstrations in which the historic rescue boat is pulled out to sea by horses, keeping the memory of this maritime history alive.
Author: Editorial Staff RTV NOF
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