Stage manager

In 1976, the AVRO wanted to make a television serial of the book ‘Hollands Glorie’ (1940) by Jan de Hartog. In order to do that the broadcaster needed, besides 64 actors and actresses, an original steam sea-going tug boat. Such a tug was no longer to be found in the Netherlands. There were still some steam driven port tugs but those were not suitable for the role. However, through the International Tugboat Hobby Club the AVRO discovered that there was still an old steam driven sea tug operating in the waters around Stockholm. A photograph of 'Holmvik' convinced the stage manager Walter van der Kamp. He knew immediately: “This is the tug which is needed for ‘Hollands Glorie’”.

'Furie'

The tug was purchased and sailed over to IJmuiden where she arrived on the 30th of April. There she was fitted out for her new role as television star. This meant among other things that the radar installation was removed and a towing bitts was installed. The modifications took round about six weeks whereupon the tug was towed to Castletown, Bantry Bay in Ireland to start the prerecording in full sea. The tugboat came into action here firstly as ‘Jan van Gent’ and later, following some reconstruction, as the ‘Furie’. She worked there for a total of some seven weeks. Once back in the Netherlands more recordings were made on the IJsselmeer. The successful series ‘Hollands Glorie’ was broadcast between the end of 1977 and the beginning of 1978 and was repeated in 1982. The name ‘Furie’ has stuck.  The tugboat that began her days as ‘Bodewes VI’ still sails today under this name.