It is an experience to feel the ship, hoist the sails, and glide across the sea.

Despite his young age, Jerke is an experienced skipper and knows the ship like no one else.

He can cast off and dock with his eyes closed, and at all times Jerke conveys the sense that one can feel safe on the Nil Desperandum.

You can sense his love for the ship, and new investments to make it even more modern and beautiful are already planned.

For those who have not yet had any experience with a sailing ship of this size, I can highly recommend this vessel.

It had long been a cherished wish of mine to sail on a real large three-master. Now it has been fulfilled in the finest way. That I was able to experience this after more than 20 years away from active sailing! Friendly guests and a great crew, especially Simone, the “kitchen fairy,” who normally works as a nurse in the neonatal unit; her husband is the mate, and their son, who usually works as a sailor on a cargo ship, signed on for his vacation aboard the Albert Johannes.There was a very family-like atmosphere, which came across as wonderfully warm. The fact that the Albert Johannes wasn’t the fastest in the regatta didn’t bother anyone – taking part is everything. I can recommend it to everyone.Here are a few photos.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hhdJs9a9yCEkMVPx9

(Editor’s note: Booking service, cleanliness, accommodation, and crew were not evaluated)

After experiencing almost continuous calm two years ago—which nevertheless gave us a no less wonderful sightseeing and swimming cruise through the waters of the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park with unforgettable impressions of nature aboard the Elegant—this summer we were able to set sail (almost) every day. With truly good wind strengths and plenty of knots, we explored the eastern Danish Baltic Sea all the way to the southern coast of Sweden.Our first stop was the “dollhouse” harbor of Lohme on Rügen, with its sweet little Café Niedlich and a beautiful evening light illumination. From there, we headed out on a fast day’s sail toward southern Sweden/Falstebro, where we spent a lovely quiet and warm summer evening on deck in a small canal, passing the time with maritime guitar music. Our third stop was on Zealand in the small historic town of Dragør, just south of Copenhagen.Day 4 brought us the impressive chalk cliffs of the island of Møn, which we were able to hike thanks to a weather-related layover. An incredible scenery that truly touches the senses. In the evening, thanks to a very secluded berth in Klintholm Harbor, we could even have a little deck dance party without disturbing the general harbor peace.Finally, we visited the island of Hiddensee, where this time we enjoyed a refreshing surf bath with massive waves in the sunshine—topped off with a festive meal purchased at the island’s smokehouse. It was a week full of highlights, with the best sailing winds and endless sunshine… something that doesn’t come around often, but hopefully will again ;)Maik and Pascal guided us 21 landlubbers wonderfully and, with their know-how, made our stay very enjoyable. Daily legs and destinations were agreed upon depending on the weather and crew, so that in the end everything came together perfectly.The entire organization of the cruise via Julia was simply fantastic! She gave great tips, always had an open ear, lots of patience, and was also available for questions at very short notice. 100 points for Julia!

Had a very nice day with excellent catering

We had a lovely trip with the Zuiderzee. The preparations by the shipping company went very smoothly. Overall, the Zuiderzee is a beautiful ship. There are only a few minor flaws in the cabins, but you really have to look closely to notice them. On board, you’ll be accompanied by the friendly captain Martin and boatswain Allen. I can definitely recommend the ship and the crew. (We organized our own catering, so it’s not included in the review.)

Although the trip from Gothenburg to Rostock was exceptionally low on wind, Laura and Lutz managed to create a wonderfully relaxing and harmonious sailing journey. Highly recommended.

Two years after our first trip on the “Elegant”, this time we set course for Denmark.

Captain Maik and the crew – Pascal and Laura – really had their hands full this time: constantly changing weather forecasts, harbors we couldn’t reach, and then those hopelessly unskilled “helpers” on the sails.Well, to be fair – when all the crew members are over 60, hoisting, lowering, and folding sails is quite a physical challenge.The trip, with some rough seas (force 7), heavy rain, but also glorious sunshine – plus a rest/hiking day on Møn – was once again a fantastic experience!As for the onboard catering (all self-managed), there’s not much more to say: it was top-notch, and our kitchen teams really came up with something new every day.We’ll be back! Thank you, you three!

12 days, nearly 700 km on the beautiful ship with 30 people. Everything worked out very well; the crew was thoughtful and supportive wherever possible. We cooked for ourselves — and did a great job — so the food hasn’t been rated. The facilities for cooking were excellent. We really appreciated the flexibility regarding the daily schedule and destinations — and the participants’ needs were always taken into account. We’d be happy to do it again!

We dealt in advance with changes to the plan, insurance matters, and clarifications regarding the ship’s suitability for our trip. Rederij van Linschoten provided active support, ensured communication with all parties involved, and, above all, helped find appropriate solutions.

We are completely satisfied and were able to experience another impressive and wonderful adventure.

In 12 days, we sailed all the way around the island of Funen. Our captain Jan put in a tremendous effort to ensure we could discover and explore charming and dreamy little towns away from the major ports. The strengths of the Pegasus (such as her shallow draft and great maneuverability) really came into their own. Cooking together as a group with our travel guide was a lot of fun, and accommodating special dietary needs and intolerances was no problem at all. Sailing along under the wonderful guidance of boatswain Sarah and the work on deck (like building a new gangway 😉 ) created many special memories.

Kieler Woche 2025, final evening. Warm and sailing-friendly weather, so the sails could actually be set. We sailed past various ships and boats out onto the fjord. From there, we returned for the closing fireworks around 10:45 PM. A very relaxed, friendly, and competent crew along with about 40 guests made for a pleasant mix. The stew was also delicious. We’ll be happy to come back!

Anyone who wants to actively sail is in the right place here. The tall ship is very well maintained. The captain and his wife bring extensive knowledge and experience, are very safety-conscious, guide the fellow sailors well, and coordinate the daily schedule with the entire crew. The crew is very friendly. With almost high-summer-like weather, we sailed, swam, did stand-up paddling and kayaking, and snorkeled every day. The catering left nothing to be desired. And the fellow travelers were a relaxed bunch. Would gladly do it again…

A ship in tip-top condition, a warm-hearted crew, nice weather, and lovely fellow sailors – that can only be a success.

The boat and crew were awesome. Would definitely do it again.

My second trip with the Aagtje. Once again, we were warmly welcomed by the crew and supported while sailing. There was a great atmosphere on a very well-maintained ship. Both the ship and crew are highly recommended.

Very interesting trip on a well-maintained ship with a very experienced crew. A bit more wind (and thus more time under sail) would have been nice. The Italian bureaucracy also bothered us a bit, and it almost kept us stuck in Amalfi for 24 hours. The food was typical Italian cuisine. The weather was a bit chilly in the evening, but some still took their swimming laps around the ship. The mood on board was excellent.

A truly special sailing trip on a cool ship with amazing people. The weather was actually a bit too nice for sailing, and unfortunately, we had a bit too little wind. The route — Kühlungsborn, Fehmarn, Wismar, Grömitz, and Travemünde — was very well chosen. Everyone on board was super easygoing. Definitely makes you want to do it again. Thanks! 😎😁👍

A somewhat different experience compared to my previous charters.

This ship can hold its own alongside Elegant, Engelina (formerly Jan Huygen), and all the other vessels I’ve been a guest on!

Highly recommended. 😉

This wasn’t my first trip on a traditional sailing ship. However, this journey will always stay in my memory. Not only the crew, but also the catering deserves a solid A+. It’s certainly not something to be taken for granted how lovingly everything was prepared by our cook, Claudia. At this point, a big compliment also goes out to the other fellow travelers—for the understanding and consideration shown to and with one another. For me, it’s clear: if my health allows it, I will join the Elegant again on the transfer voyage from the Baltic Sea back to Harlingen.Until then—may you always have a hand’s breadth of water under the keel!Best regards,Eckhard