The Drowned Horses of Ameland
On 14 August 1979, one of the most memorable and tragic events in the history of the Ameland Horse-Drawn Lifeboat took place.
A stormy southwest wind and a strong ebb tide made sea conditions life-threatening when the German yacht Windspiel 4 found itself in distress. The Horse-Drawn Lifeboat was called, as it had been many times before. Eight strong horses were harnessed to pull the boat through the surf, but this time, things turned out differently.
Tragedy struck
Normally, the horses would be unhitched from the carriage once they reached the water’s edge. However, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, that didn’t happen. The heavy carriage was swept away by the waves, and the eight horses were pulled into the depths by the water. Before the crew's eyes, the animals drowned – an image that would forever haunt the islanders.
The Horse Grave
Although the rescue of the crew from the German yacht was successful, the disaster left deep scars. The horses, long-time loyal heroes of the island, were buried on the east side of the Lifeboat Path, where a memorial stone marks their final resting place. This stone serves as a reminder of this profound event and the role the horses played in the history of the lifeboat.
5 new horses
Despite the sorrow, a decision was made shortly after the accident to continue the tradition, leading to the purchase of five new horses. After a brief period of training, the lifeboat was once again drawn into the sea in the familiar manner, reinforcing the strong bond between man and horse in the rescue history of Ameland.
Location of the Horse Grave
The Klonjes 5
9161 BV Hollum
An annual memorial service is held at the grave monument.
Wij zijn geschiedenis ( "We Are History", a Dutch TV series)
For the TV series Wij zijn de geschiedenis, KRO produced this report in 2008. All those involved in the horse disaster share their stories in it. The report is only available in Dutch.