Historic Luxury Motor Vessel with Fixed Mooring in Schiedam Center

Located near the center of Schiedam in the Nieuwe Haven area, this listing presents the luxury motor vessel Excelsior, a unique residential opportunity for those seeking a floating home with character and history. The historic city center with its notable buildings is within walking distance of the mooring location. The Nieuwe Haven itself offers good access to the Buitenhaven, which connects to the Nieuwe Maas or the Schie leading towards Delft, making this an attractive location for water enthusiasts.

The Excelsior is a motor vessel that was built in 1924 at a coaster shipyard in Papendrecht. Despite its age, the ship still regularly navigates the inland waterways, supported by its powerful main engine, bow thruster, and spud poles. The raised decks have created a significant amount of functional living space in what was formerly the cargo hold area. This conversion has resulted in a comfortable residential interior while maintaining the authentic character of a historic commercial vessel.

The layout of the living quarters begins from the midship deck, where a staircase leads through the aft section down to the former cargo hold. This area has been transformed into a spacious living room with an open kitchen. Natural light floods the space through multiple skylights installed in the deck above. For warmth during the colder months, a wood burning stove has been installed, creating a cozy atmosphere in the winter season.

Moving forward from the living area, one finds a generous bedroom, a bathroom equipped with a shower and toilet, and a sizable workshop space located beneath the foredeck. A passage has been created alongside the engine room that connects the living quarters to the wheelhouse. The wheelhouse features comfortable seating with views overlooking the harbor, providing a pleasant space to relax and observe the maritime activity.

The roef, which is the traditional cabin structure on the deck, has recently been completely refitted with new interior paneling. This space now includes a spacious bedstee, which is a built in bed typical of Dutch waterway vessels, a sitting area with a small kitchen unit, and space for a toilet installation. The original timber paneling has been largely restored during this renovation, preserving the historical character of the vessel.

The city of Schiedam is situated between Rotterdam and Vlaardingen and has approximately 80,000 inhabitants. The city is distinguished by its historic center and claims to have the tallest windmills in the world. Public transportation options are extensive, with train, tram, bus, and metro connections available. The location along the Nieuwe Maas and the Schie rivers gives Schiedam a strong maritime identity, with various harbors and canals found throughout the city.

Just south of the mooring location lies De Plantage, which is noted as the oldest city park in the Netherlands. This green space provides an ideal location for walking, particularly for dog owners. The combination of urban amenities and nearby natural areas makes this location particularly appealing.

The history of the Excelsior adds significant character to the property. The vessel was built in 1924 at a coaster shipyard in Papendrecht with its current dimensions and a cargo capacity of 169 tons. The ship was commissioned by the Panman family from Delfzijl and was originally named Onderneming, though it was not officially registered until 1927. Initially, the vessel was equipped with a cargo mast and a two cylinder Skandia brand engine.

During its commercial working life, the ship completed approximately 12 voyages per year, transporting bulk goods including artificial fertilizer, sand, gravel, and animal feed. The daughter of Mr. Panman eventually took over the vessel from her father, and the family operated the ship until 1986. Various modifications were made over the decades, including the removal of the cargo mast in 1957 and the installation of Kalff decks in 1964. Around 1956, a tea house structure was added to create more space in the roef, with the toilet being relocated to this new structure. The sides of the roef were renewed in 1960. In 1974, the original two cylinder engine was replaced with a DAF 575 turbo engine.

After leaving the Panman family in 1986, the ship was sold to a schoolteacher in Leiden who renamed it Pieterdina. In 2000, the vessel changed hands again and was named Catharina. The current owners have held the property since 2003 and have maintained it well throughout their ownership.

From a technical perspective, the vessel is in excellent condition. The current owners have ensured the ship remains seaworthy with a properly functioning main engine, bow thruster, and two Boterman brand spud poles. The main engine is a DAF 575 turbo producing 120 horsepower. The bow thruster is a 30 horsepower unit operating on 380 volt power. The spud poles can reach a maximum depth of 5.1 meters.

The electrical system includes a Mitsubishi generator with a capacity of 30 kva. A Victron inverter rated at 2,000 watts handles the conversion of power for household use. The battery system was completely replaced in 2023 with a traction battery set of 720 amp hours. This battery bank is charged through both solar panels and a wind generator mounted on the foredeck. Solar panels are installed on the wheelhouse and the luikenkap.

Fuel capacity consists of two diesel tanks, each holding 500 liters. The fresh water system includes a 4,000 liter tank with a Speck hydrofoor pump for pressurized water distribution. Wastewater is handled by a 1,000 liter holding tank with a 24 volt membrane pump for proper disposal.

Heating options are comprehensive, including a diesel fired heater with an Elro burner, a wood burning stove in the living room, an air conditioning unit that provides both heating and cooling functions, and various infrared panels distributed throughout the vessel. This combination ensures comfortable temperatures can be maintained regardless of the season.

Navigation and safety equipment includes an AIS transponder and Sailor brand marine radios. The living space is protected by a steel cover with a synthetic luikenkap above it.

The most recent hull thickness report dates from March 2024, and the vessel holds a valid CBB certification until May 2031. This certification indicates the vessel meets the required safety and structural standards for navigation.

The mooring situation is particularly favorable. The mooring is granted for an indefinite period through the Schiedam association called Het Beurtschip. This association leases the water from the municipality of Schiedam and manages ten mooring locations. The infrastructure and maintenance are handled by the members of the association themselves. The annual mooring fee is 750 euros, of which 100 euros is reserved for maintenance purposes. A one time membership contribution of 2,000 euros is required upon joining the association.

From a legal and financial perspective, there are several notable advantages. No transfer tax is applicable to the purchase of this residential vessel, as confirmed in the listing. The notary handling the transaction can provide further details on this benefit. Additionally, because the vessel is registered in the land registry and has a fixed mooring location, obtaining a mortgage is among the possible financing options. A mortgage advisor or real estate agent can provide more specific information about the available mortgage possibilities.

The vessel has overall dimensions of 29.05 meters in length and 5.08 meters in width. The draft is approximately 1.25 meters, and the air draft, which is the clearance height required for passing under bridges, is 4.10 meters. The living area measures approximately 85 square meters, with an additional workshop of approximately 20 square meters and a forward storage area or sleeping accommodation for two persons measuring 10 square meters. The total volume of the vessel is 250 cubic meters.

The property is classified as a houseboat or water dwelling, which is a detached residential property. The construction period falls within the range of 1906 to 1930, consistent with the 1924 build date. The roof structure is a gable roof covered with metal. The exterior storage space and building related outdoor space are each minimal at 1 square meter.

The interior arrangement includes five rooms in total, with two of these being bedrooms. There is one bathroom with shower and washbasin facilities, plus one separate toilet. The living space is distributed across three levels. Parking in the area consists of paid parking and parking permit systems.

The asking price is 365,000 euros, which translates to approximately 4,294 euros per square meter of living space. The property status is currently available. No energy label is available for this type of dwelling. Prospective buyers are advised to check with the municipality regarding any self occupancy requirements that may apply to future owners.