Horse-drawn Lifeboat Demonstration
- When
- August 5, 2026
- Where
- Hollum
Ten horses spectacularly pull the historic lifeboat through the surf and into the sea.
The horse-drawn lifeboat demonstration is one of the most iconic and unique traditions of Ameland. Ten sturdy horses pull the historic lifeboat Abraham Fock with thundering force across the beach and through the surf into the sea, exactly as really happened during rescue operations at sea for more than 150 years, until 1988.
The demonstration starts at the boathouse of the Abraham Fock maritime centre on the Oranjeweg in Hollum; the launch takes place on the beach southwest of Hollum. It is an impressive and photogenic spectacle that brings the island's maritime past to life. The demonstration is held several times per season, so almost every holidaymaker can experience this unique piece of cultural history.
The demonstration starts at the boathouse of the Abraham Fock maritime centre on the Oranjeweg in Hollum; the launch takes place on the beach southwest of Hollum. It is an impressive and photogenic spectacle that brings the island's maritime past to life. The demonstration is held several times per season, so almost every holidaymaker can experience this unique piece of cultural history.
Don't want to miss the Horse-drawn Lifeboat Demonstration? Stay in one of the butterfly apartments at De Vlindertuin during your visit to Ameland, just a short distance from the events on the island.