This is a private Dutch stamp that shows the ferries DOKTER WAGEMAKER (in the foreground) and the SCHULPENGAT
The DOKTER WAGEMAKER is the flagship of the Royal NV Texel Steam Boat Company (TESO). It is named after the founder of TESO, GP Adriaan Wagemaker.
The ship was built by the Royal Schelde Group (KSG), part of the Damen Shipyards Group. The hull was built at the Damen Shipyard at Galatz in Romania and the hull towed to KSG in Flushing for fitting out and completion.
The ship can hold up to 300 cars (or 30 trucks and 200 cars) and 1750 passengers. This ship is the first vessel of TESO that includes an atrium and lifts.
The DOKTER WAGEMAKER runs a regular ferry service, with the SCHULPENGAT between Den Helder (homeport of the Dutch Navy) and ’T Horntje on the island of Texel. The jouney takes about 20 minutes
The DOKTER WAGEMAKER is not the first ship of this name. The first was built in 1934, a year after Adriaan Wagemaker died. On 14 and 15 August 2007 DOKTER WAGEMAKER was used by TESO to take shareholders on a ferry cruise. The occasion being the 100th anniversary of the company.
The Royal TESO N.V. is a private ferry company operating the only public boat service to and from the Dutch Wadden island of Texel. TESO stands for Texels Eigen Stoomboot Onderneming (in English: Texel's Own Steamboat Company). Founded in 1907, this public company was started by Dr. Wagemaker to improve the quality of transportation to and from the island. Most of the 3000 shareholders of Royal TESO are residents of Texel. In 2007, TESO celebrated its centennial anniversary, and therefore was conferred the 'Royal' designation on Texel by Queen Beatrix.
Currently, the TESO operates a fleet of two ships, and crosses the Marsdiep, a deep-tide race between Den Helder and Texel numerous times every day
Ordered 15 May 2003
Keel Laid 17 December 2003
Launched 26 November 2004
Named 1st July 2005 by Mrs. LG Fedder-Janssen (granddaughter of Adriaan Wagemaker)
Into service September 16, 2005
Home Port Texel
Main Features
Tonnage 2999 GRT; 1840 dwt
Passengers 1750
IMO number 9294070
Flag Netherlands
Length 130.4 meters
Width 22.7 meters
Draft 4.05 meters
Speed 15 knots
Owner NV Koninklijke Texel Steam Boat Company
Type RoRo / ferry
The attached photo shows DOKTER WAGEMAKER arriving at Den Helder on 22/3/2006.
Sources: Wikipedia; https://www.teso.nl/en/
Peter Crichton