Opduwer

An opduwer or opdrukker is a small tug- or towboat that was used in the Low Countries to push barges on inland waterways.

Earlier, barges were propelled either by sail or by towing from shore by horse or manpower.

The opduwer offered additional advantages to the skipper as it could be used as a handy motorboat for various tasks and there was no noise or vibration from the engine in the barge itself.

Later opduwers were built on shipyards, often from material that was left over from the construction of large ships.

Some were completely open boats while other opduwers featured decks and a roof to protect the engine from the weather.