Utopia

Henri van Dijk is the owner of two ships: the Utopia and the Pouwel Jonas. He himself usually sails on the Utopia.

Especially youth groups and schools know how to find both spacious and comfortable ships, much to Henri's delight. "I have a lot of patience with them and they are allowed to go almost anywhere on the ship. If some youngsters want to come and have a look in the wheelhouse, or stand at the helm, they are very welcome."  

Feeling at home on board
"I like to make my guests feel at home on the ship. I also like chatting with my guests." He also has some special conversations with the teachers during such a school trip. "They are always in direct contact with the next generations and are forced to think about it. They accompany these young people for a longer period of time during an important period in their lives. I find that special, so I like to talk to them about that. As long as I keep the ship on course, I have plenty of time to pay attention to my guests on board." 

Continuous improvement
Henri is always working to make his ships even better and more comfortable, and he certainly keeps the environment and sustainability in mind. He uses biodegradable cleaning products and has a chilled water system, with and without carbon dioxide. This means that guests do not have to bring their own plastic water bottles. Henri is considering installing a solar panel on the roof of the wheelhouse and is looking into other ways of saving energy. "A big investment, but definitely worth it."

Play
"Do you know what is fun for the guests? On the Utopia, we have four two-person kayaks on board. If the wind drops for a while, or if we have to wait somewhere, we can drop anchor. Everyone has fun with those kayaks. And not just the youngsters ;-)".