Jubilerende Doerakkers maken haven van Leiderdorp onveilig

LEIDERDORP - It's the Volkswagen of Dutch boats: the Doerak. Thousands of them have been sailing around the Netherlands since the 1960s, and this year the Doerak Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary. They're doing so in Leiderdorp's Doeshaven harbor, where some 80 Doeraks are moored. But today they have a scavenger hunt. It's one of the activities planned for the Doerak Club's anniversary celebration. So, a long procession of some 80 Doeraks passes a surprised bridge keeper in Leiderdorp. Pim Frequin, a board member from the very beginning of the Doerak Club, says. According to him, the Doerak is a typical family boat. "We can comfortably accommodate six people on our boat," Frequin explains. "And, very importantly, grandparents can bring their grandchildren. And they, in turn, are the future Doerak boaters." There are approximately 5,000 Doeraks sailing around the Netherlands. They're very recognizable, because they all have that characteristic flat front. "There are two kinds of people," says an enthusiast in the harbor. "Either you love the boat, or you think it's hideous. There's no middle ground." A Doerakker, as the boat's owner is called, isn't a show-off. "A Doerakker is a regular guy," says Frequin. "They're not pretentious, and they're very sweet, friendly, and sociable people. But they do enjoy a "schippersbitter" (a Dutch barge's bitter). You can also read news from the Leiden region daily at http://www.unity.nu You can also see images from the Leiden region daily at http://www.unitytv.nl You can hear where you live on Unity FM at http://www.unityfm.nl You can listen to Dutch music via Unity NL at http://www.unitynl.nl