Skipper Van Vliet of Rotterdam, who had this ship built, actually wanted to name it after his wife: Maria Johanna. But the shipyard refused to build a ship with a Catholic first name. And so it became a compromise: “Johanna Maria.

It sailed as a sailing ship between Rotterdam and Mannheim in Germany until 1933. In that year, the mast went off and it became a towboat. Surely that is a bit more convenient on a river than sailing. In World War II, the ship was requisitioned first by the Dutch and later by the German army. The latter sunk it in the Juliana Canal in 1944, but the ship was lifted in 1945 and still sailed with cargo until 1958.

That year it was purchased by artist Willem Westbroek who used it as a home and studio. The current owner specially returned from vacation when he heard the ship was for sale. Who is especially proud of the authenticity and uniqueness of his ship. An engine is still not in it. So for the owners’ dream trip to the Wadden Sea, a tugboat will have to be involved. Just like old times.