My name is Steffie Kranz and I am one of the captains on the Gouwzee. During my pedagogic studies I first came in contact with sailing a large ship. The dynamics between air and the water you sail on when all that moves you is the force of the wind. That left a permanent impression on me.

It is great to see how in the course of the journey individual landlubbers change into a close group of sailors, and that is why I chose to make this my living back in 1998.

Every day is always different; not only the environment, but also the guests make every trip a unique experience. Evert and me have been sailing our own ship since 2004 and even before that Evert and me sailed together on another one for three years.

My name is Evert Jan Muurling and I am the other captain. I sailed as a guest in 1995 and 1996 and that got me so excited that I decided to sail for a year. After that year I realised I had to go on and I attended the Enkhuizer nautical college. After working as a seaman for two years I now sail into my fifth year as captain and know all the beautiful places the IJsselmeer and Waddenzee have to offer. Together with Steffie this is my third year on our own ship the Gouwzee.