The salmon boat or drifting boat is a slim fishing boat. First the boat was made of wood, later of iron and now it's made out of steel. This fishing boat was used for salmon fishing on our large rivers and on the South Holland streams.

The salmon boat, a flat bottom ship, with its shallow draft and its shape was very suitable for river fishing. After the attached rudder and leeboards were taken on board, the nets could be lifted by the shape of the boat without damage. There were no outboard engines, so with sail (lifting gear) and oars, one had to move forward.

For the salmon boat, the hood is typical: a tent of sailcloth over the open bow. Even now, the skipper spends a night there, just like the fishermen of the past.

For more information about salmon boats, visit the website of the Association for the Conservation of the Salmon Boat: the VBZ (in Dutch).