Roeivereniging Willem III

Founded by teenagers, Roeivereniging Willem III has witnessed Amsterdam’s transformation since 1882. Arent Daniel Meyjes, just 15, along with his brother Gottfried and the Bok brothers, found themselves too young to join existing rowing clubs. So, they carved their own path. Roeivereniging Willem III began at “De Gouden Leeuw,” Meyjes’ father’s shipyard, their first boats a borrowed sloop. They even named their fledgling club after King Willem III, initially forgetting to ask his permission! Royal approval eventually came in 1886. Roeivereniging Willem III quickly outgrew its initial home. It then moved to a larger space at the Hoogte Kadijk. By 1890, they occupied a floating boathouse in the Oosterdok, later relocating it along the Amstel. The club’s early years were marked by expansion, with membership reaching 80 and a fleet of eight boats by 1900. Roeivereniging Willem III even opened its doors to women in 1906, a progressive move for the time. Two floating boathouses weren’t enough to withstand Amsterdam’s sometimes tempestuous weather. One sank during a storm (though it was salvaged), and the other went adrift. A permanent home on the Amstel, opposite Trompenburgstraat, became a necessity and was finally realized in 1909. World War II brought its own set of challenges. The club’s membership plummeted, and the Germans ordered the demolition of their Amstel clubhouse in 1943. The resourceful members hid their boats in a laundry in Nigtevecht and continued their meetings in a rented room on Ceintuurbaan. Post-war, Roeivereniging Willem III found temporary shelter in the former “Deutscher Turn und Rudernverein” building, sharing it with another club. But the need for a proper home led to the decision to rebuild at their current location on Jan Vroegopsingel. The new clubhouse, a testament to the members’ dedication and financial contributions, opened in 1954. Since then, Roeivereniging Willem III has continued to thrive. Expansions in 1996 doubled the boat storage and added an indoor training room. Renovations in the early 2000s modernized the facilities and improved accessibility. Today, Roeivereniging Willem III stands as a symbol of resilience, community, and a deep-rooted passion for rowing in Amsterdam.