About us
The beginning when marina and motel borger did not exist…
The origins of Jachthaven Motel Börger can be traced back to the second half of the last century. Peat dealers like a number of other Vinkeveners, had to deal with the outcome of the dying process. A series of islands remained unused after they had been used as peat layers for peat extraction. At the same time there were several Amsterdammers interested in an island in the Vinkeveense plassen.
Willow branch as a border marker
“In the early days,” says Jos Börger (Henk’s son), “the island pieces were simply used in the course. A willow branch was placed after every fifty meters. That was the limit. My father got the chance to buy the old farm property. In the part the first rooms were furnished and slowly the pension function came. Later rooms were also set up in the hangars. These were rented out in the summer and from October the folding walls were put away and the boats could be parked.”
Clubhouse sailing club
“We have also accommodated the sailing club for many years. I can still remember that there was a continuous battle between the ‘sharpies’ and the ‘freedom’. The conviviality in the canteen did not have time. It happened, that the stuff was still there at noon and my father just put the key on the table with the remark ‘see what you still use, take care of it, I go to bed!’.
Museum as a hobby
Henk Börger is the founder of Museum De Ronde Venen, which stands on the grounds of the marina. Jos explains: “My father had collected so many items from the peat labor that he could arrange a complete museum with this. That was really his biggest hobby, which certainly also kept him going for a number of years. I am convinced that he lived through his museum for years.”
The beginning of Marina and Motel Borger…
1970
The old farm was replaced by a new business building with a party room, simple B&B rooms with shared shower/toilet for fishermen and the upcoming tourist. The intrest of tourists was so great that in 1995 Jos Börger personally built 5 large family rooms with private bathroom at the port. Due to stricter fire safety requirements in 2003, a fire wall had to be built between the boat shed and the family rooms. This was so drastic that we decided to demolish the building and set up a totally new building with 10 luxury family rooms. As it is located on the Vinkeveense plassen the sailing tourist certainly noticed that the building is painted in the Scandinavian color yellow and the boat shed in red.
These colors have also been implemented in the log cabins to be hired on the dike site behind the company. The luxurious rooms fall under the 3 star classification and are provided with breakfast only. In the breakfast room an old little BM (sailing boat)is used as breakfast counter. We received it as a gift from a customer of the marina. At this moment we work together as one family in the company.