The KNRM is the Royal Dutch Rescue Society, a foundation that provides free assistance to people who have gotten into trouble on the water. Ameland has two KNRM rescue stations. Lifeguard stations can be found all along the Dutch coast and lifeboats are ready for action on all Wadden Islands. The KNRM also stations lifeguards on the bathing beaches of the Wadden Islands.
KNRM and lifeboat
The KNRM works in Dutch waters, i.e. in the Dutch part of the North Sea, along the Dutch coast, in Zeeland waters, on the IJsselmeer and in the Randmeren. The KNRM provides free help and assistance on open water.
The rescue company was founded in 1824 and has operated independently and without subsidies all these years. Every year the KNRM takes action more than 2000 times.
Assumptions
The KNRM’s policy in the field of operational deployability of equipment, personnel and finances is based on three principles:
- Rescue is free of charge for the person seeking assistance
- Rescuers are professional volunteers
- Rescuers on shore voluntarily contribute financially
Core task
Saving people is the core task of the KNRM, but the organization does more than that. The KNRM ensures that the rescuers are trained and that equipment is available to set sail and rescue. The KNRM has approximately fifty permanent employees. They mainly work at the head office in IJmuiden. Guidance from IJmuiden comes in many areas, so that the rescue stations can focus on rescue.
The head office is involved in:
- Safety
- Technology
- Course
- Communication
- Fundraising
Sailing ship in distress / Source: KNRM
Anna Margaretha / Source: Ameland Press Agency
Sailing during Lifeboat Day in the Ballumerbocht / Source: Ameland Press Agency
Professional rescuers
The KNRM has ten permanent lifeguards. This is the nautical core, with a group of qualified volunteer employees in their team. On Ameland, the skipper of the Anna Margaretha is a professional rescuer. The rescuers are available day and night.
The volunteer rescuers make agreements with their boss about their availability when called upon by the skipper.
Rescue stations
The KNRM has 45 rescue stations, located along the coast of the Netherlands, with 75 lifeboats:
- North Sea & Wadden Sea
- IJsselmeer & Randmeren
- South Dutch Currents
- Zeeland streams
Rescue station Ameland
Ameland has been a rescue station since 1826. Ameland has two rescue stations.
- Ballumer bend
- Nes
Anna Margaretha
Lifeboat Anna Margaretha is permanently ready to sail in the Ballumerbocht.
The Anna Margaretha is of the Arie Visser type , the largest boat in the KNRM fleet.
Maria Hofker
Lifeboat Maria Hofker’s home port is Nes. The Maria Hofker is a RIB of the Atlantic 21 and 75 type .
Lifeboat day
Once a year, around the end of April and beginning of May, the rescue stations organize a Lifeboat Day. Ballumerbocht station also participates in the lifeboat day. The Anna Margaretha and the Maria Hofker from Ameland will be present and donors can take a tour of the mudflats.
Rescue museums
The Netherlands has several rescue museums
- National Rescue Museum ‘Dorus Rijkers’ in Den Helder
- Jan Lels Rescue Museum in Hoek van Holland.
- Maritime Center Abraham Fock in Hollum on Ameland
- Maritime Museum Amsterdam
- Maritime Museum Rotterdam
- Maritime and Beachcombers Museum Oudeschild on Texel
- Museum ‘t Behouden Huys on West Terschelling
- Breskens Fisheries Museum
- Sea and harbor museum IJmuiden
- Museum of Egmond
- Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen
- Maritime Digital
Maritime Digital is a joint database of maritime museums in the Netherlands.
Donors
The Rescue Society is maintained by the contributions of donors.
Anyone who wants to support the rescue work can register here:
KNRM
Haringkade 2
1976 CP IJmuidenTel.: 0255 548454E-mail: [email protected]
Giro 26363
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