{"id":710,"date":"2016-11-06T11:34:27","date_gmt":"2016-11-06T11:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/?page_id=710"},"modified":"2025-12-14T14:38:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T14:38:16","slug":"vrijwilligers-aan-het-werk","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/about-us\/vrijwilligers-aan-het-werk\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteers at work"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the renovation of the ss Rotterdam was finished in 2010 still a lot of work had to be done to restore authentic elements. Our volunteers have been working on that through the years, using original materials that were found on the ship. Their craftmanship and enthusiasm have delivered many valuable results. Our volunteers also take care of historical materials like building drawings, menues, daily programs, uniforms and ceramic plates that have been donated to our foundation or given on loan. We are very grateful for what they do for our foundation and of course for the ss Rotterdam.<\/p>\n

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Standing from left to right in April 2025: Aart Leemans, Henk Salij, Jan Egberts, Jan van Pijkeren, Rob Coolen, Jan Tjassens Keiser, Ton Lenselink and Alfons Croes.<\/p>\n

An overview of our activities<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Painting the railings of the central staircase with hundreds of details<\/p>\n

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Restoring the quoits playground and the shuffleboard lanes on one of the sports decks<\/p>\n

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Putting uv protecting foil on the portholes of the captain’s dayroom<\/p>\n

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Re-arranging the tools in our workshop:<\/p>\n

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The arrangement of our new museum<\/strong> is in full swing<\/p>\n

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Our volunteers Aart Leemans and Harry Hobma worked on the former first class sports deck to restore the shuffle board lanes and the dot that markes the spot where Queen Juliana in August 20 1959 hoisted the houseflag of Holland America Line.<\/p>\n

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Jan Egberts replaces the handwheel on the starboard feed-water pump. It was donated to us by former engineer Martin Smit.<\/p>\n

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Alfons Croes is doing paintwork in the corridor to our musea on C deck.<\/p>\n

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Jan Tjassens Keiser has completed a new showcase in our museum on C deck.<\/p>\n

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Ton Lenselink and Henk Salij are working on a piece of furniture for the lamp from the Lido-restaurant as it was from 1968 till 1989.<\/p>\n

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During the last months of 2022<\/strong> our team of volunteers has been very productive. The ropes of the derricks have been improved, the inventory of the original drawings is work in progress, the Christmas star has been prepared for placing between the smoke stacks and we are building a new museum room on C deck aft.<\/p>\n

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Restoration of historical boxes of the fire brigade<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Renovation of the port and starboard light<\/strong>s<\/strong> in July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Wooden boxes on the bridge wings and painting the banisters in May 2022
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Our volunteer Jan Fahner has restored two wooden boxes on the bridge wings. One of them was found after the renovation of the ship and had to be restored. A second one has been built on new by Jan. Our volunteer Alfons Croes is painting the banisters in the central staircase. It is an extensive work, comprising about 1100 bars.<\/p>\n

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The telegraph has been repaired<\/strong><\/p>\n

In August 2020 a visitor demolished one of the handles of the starboard telegraph. Our member of the board Koos Sanderse took care of the reparation.<\/p>\n

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Reparation Christmas star<\/strong><\/p>\n

Preparing for Christmas the Christmas star that traditionally decorates the smoke stacks has been repaired by our volunteers Ton Lenselink and Henk Salij.<\/p>\n

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Restoration of the wheels<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our volunteers are taking care of the wheels in the engine room. Former engineer Roel Valbracht advised us about the right colours. After an intensive cleaning process Alfons Croes presented the first result: a bronze wheel.<\/p>\n

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Repairing the Christmas star<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ton Lenselink and his collegues spended much time to repair the Christmas star that traditionally is mounted between the smoke stacks in december.<\/p>\n

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Repairing the railing at the aft staircase<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jan Tjassens Keiser and Henk Salij repaired the railing at the aft staircase near the Lido restaurant.<\/p>\n

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Work on the bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aart Leemans has produced a display on the cupboards on the bridge with informatie about several instruments. He also reconstructed the periscoop of the magnetic compass, that was damaged.<\/p>\n

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Cupboards in Ocean<\/strong> Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n

In November 2019 our volunteers restored the cupboards in de Ocean Bar. Some doors of the cupboards had disappeared and the decoration was damaged. Jan Fahner and his colleagues managed it to replace doors at the cupboards and to arrange a new interpretation of the original decoration on the doors. The decoration was produced and fixed to the doors by Printer Pro in Rotterdam.<\/p>\n

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Tropic Bar restored<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2018-2019 our volunteers restored the baldachin and cupboards in the Tropic bar. Our volunteer Ton Lenselink produced the following report:<\/p>\n

Report Tropic Bar<\/a><\/p>\n

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Our volunteer Jan Fahner after restoring the cupboards\u00a0\u00a0 Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Just an ordinary Wednesday on board:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Shuffleboard lanes have been painted on new in October 2018 by Aart Leemans (picture Klaas Krijnen)<\/p>\n

Passenger cabin and crew quarters on C-deck in the former laundry<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"20110506-bemanningsruimte-3-koene\"<\/p>\n

\"20110506-bemanningsruimte-2-koene\"\u00a0 \"20110506-passagiershut-1-koene\" \"20110506-passagiershut-3-koene\"<\/p>\n

Pictures Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Rebuilding sliding wall and fence on Upper-Promenadedeck<\/strong><\/p>\n

Duiring liner voyages first class passengers were separated from tourist class passengers bij several sliding walls. During the renovation they have been scrapped. Our volunteers have reconstructed a part of a sliding wall.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>An original sliding wall that was hidden behind wooden panelling \u00a0 picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

The result is a part of a sliding wall. On the left the restorated fence.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Restored clocks<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Queen’s Lounge\u00a0 picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

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Room 2080 (former cabin 198)\u00a0 picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

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Captain’s dayroom\u00a0 picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

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Grand Ballroom\u00a0 picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

Reproduced artwork in inside swimming pool<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The reproduced the artwork\u00a0\u00a0 picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

Replacing Werkspoor trademark signs in the generator room
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The turbo generators were partly produced by Werkspoor. Their four trademark signs on the generators disappeared and have been reproduced.<\/p>\n

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Picture Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

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Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Displaying kitchen machineries and sewing machine
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Some machineries from the kitchen have been saved from scrap, as well as some sewing machines and tailor’s worktabels. They are displayed now in the room that was used by the tailors durng the nineties.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Foto’s Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Nelson Arnstein (ca 1988)<\/p>\n

Reconstruction of the baldachin in the Tropic Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Pictures Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

Dressing the ship
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Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Rearranging the steering gear room<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to our volunteers the steering gear can be visited now during special tours.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

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Pictures Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Fence on the stairs to the inside swimming pool
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The entrance to the pool was closed by a fence. The fixed part of it has been replaced.<\/p>\n

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Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Restorating the lanterns and replacing the fence behind the platform and on the bar in de Ambassador Room<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

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The original situation when the bar was closed\u00a0 picture Jan-Willem Koene (1999)<\/p>\n

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The 36 lanterns had to be restorated\u00a0 picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

Rigging the derricks<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Pictures Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

Replacing shuffleboard and quoits<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Pictures Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

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Picture Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

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Picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

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Picture Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

Replacing the boat station signs<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Pictures Aart Leemans<\/p>\n

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Pictures Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

The captains gallery on Maindeck<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

Replacing the aluminum plating at the doors of the elevators and painting the doors red<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Picture Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

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Picture Klaas Krijnen<\/p>\n

Sanding and lacquering the rails<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Pictures Koos Sanderse<\/p>\n

Reconstructing the Lynbaan showcase<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Lynbaan showcase in 1997\u00a0 picture Leon Beesemer<\/p>\n

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Pictures Henk Salij<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Picture Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Rebuilding monitor with real time chart on the bridge
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\"\"<\/a>Pictures Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

Replacing three ventilation shafts<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the ss Rotterdam was built three ventilation shafts were placed on the forecastle to provide the boatswain’s shops with fresh air. But the shafts did also provide the shops with seawater when the ship was in heavy seas. So the shafts were quickly removed. Now the ship is not going to sea anymore the shafts can be replaced. First we had to find them somewhere! Thanks to Interdam, Balck Shiprepair and De Gier Cranes we were able to replace two of them.<\/p>\n

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Pictures Jan-Willem Koene<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the renovation of the ss Rotterdam was finished in 2010 still a lot of work had to be done to restore authentic elements. Our volunteers have been working on that through the years, using original materials that were found on the ship. Their craftmanship and enthusiasm have delivered many valuable results. Our volunteers also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":90,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-710","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P8WyyE-bs","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/710\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stoomschiprotterdam.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}