The oldest operating carved wooden farm wagon (“boerenwagen”) in the Netherlands, from the Alblasserwaard, the oldest polder in the Neth., dating from 1277, located between the Lek and Merwede Rivers in South Holland. Wagon built by Willem Gobelszoon van Steenis of Noordeloos, South Holland, in 1835.

This wagon was restored to an exceptional state around 2005. This wagon still has a low rear tailboard. The wheels turn on iron axles, the hub bushings in the heavy pivot were mostly of cast iron, some were bronze.

In the middle of the belly plank one can see the bolt that held the rear tailboard and at the same time acted as the pivot point to raise/lower the tailboard. This was a very old construction technique that one does not come across in later years.

In the photo one clearly sees the Lion of Holland on the rear bolster with the seven arrows representing the seven provinces and the two-sided sword in his claws.

Wagon Owner: G.J. van der Graaf                  

A fine photo: Jan van Asperen with a beautiful team; a classic old Dutch scene; a very strong team of Groninger horses in front of the 1835 Alblasserwaard wagon. Ridden with a curved shaft; the curved shaft being traditional only to the Netherlands. The horses are harnessed with a polder collar; very unique collars with a wooden fork fastened to a link span connected to the fork, upon being tensioned, with an iron pin. These collars were known to have been used in the Dordrecht area, in the Hoekschewaard and in parts of the Alblasserwaard; this type of collar originated in the Zeeland area.

This wagon has new wheel rims of acacia wood; the spokes are made of oak.