Watersportvereniging De Doordrijvers
Watersportvereniging De Doordrijvers is a sailing club on the Kinselmeer near Durgerdam, just outside Amsterdam in the Waterland nature area. Founded on 4 October 1937, the club welcomes sailors of almost every age and many international members. The grounds include a clubhouse with canteen, boat shed, harbour and grass moorings, and member cabins; members run the club entirely through voluntary work. From April to October there are nearly weekly Laser/ILCA races, including the Friday evening series and weekend events such as Primavera and the Johan Stam Midwinter Championship. The club is known for a friendly atmosphere ashore, a competitive spirit on the water, and a long tradition of Laser sailing on the Kinselmeer.
History
Watersportvereniging De Doordrijvers was founded on 4 October 1937 by friends from Amsterdam-Noord and is situated on the Kinselmeer near Durgerdam. Co-founder Bas van der Glas was among the founders. The Kinselmeer was formed during the St Elizabeth's Flood of 1421 and enlarged after another dike breach in 1825; today it lies in Waterland next to the Kinseldam bird reserve (Hoeckelingsdam, 2003). Willem joined in 1962 and helped lay the canteen foundations. For a long time the Vrijheid class dominated sailing on the lake; Johan Stam was the first Doordrijver with a Laser and established today's Laser/ILCA racing culture. After his death in 2015 the season finale was renamed the Johan Stam Midwinter Championship. The club has since run weekly Laser races, the Friday evening series and national events such as Primavera. Members have achieved successes including World Championship places (e.g. Henk Wittenberg 3rd at the 2019 Worlds) and Masters titles. All work on the grounds and clubhouse is done by members; dike reinforcement of the Markermeerdijken along the Uitdammerdijk is upcoming.
Information
Facilities
Clubhouse with canteen, boat shed (loods), summer grass moorings, harbour berths for larger boats, member cabins with waiting list, start pontoon, 8 hours of voluntary work per year required
Activities
Friday evening Laser/ILCA series, weekend races, Primavera, Johan Stam Midwinter Championship, season opening and closing, about 4 training afternoons before the season, New Year reception, AGM, BBQ/dinner, Wall of Fame
Youth section
Optimist sailing and youth membership; newcomers welcome
Guest berths
Berths for members