Spits-Lucie

Every Ship has its story

A Spitz, barge is usually a Belgian steel motorized cargo barge of 350 tons, built between the 1920s -50's. During 1920-1929 about 950 spitz barges were built in Belgium. The critical detail for the spitz is the dimension, 38 m (125 ft) long and 5.05 m (16.6 ft) wide. They were especially designed for the Belgian and French canal locks of Freycinet gauge. The last spitz was built in the Netherlands in 1973.

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Spits-Lucie

The spitz ’Lucie’ ship was built in 1955. During 58 years, ’Lucie’ was driving cargo through whole Western-Europe.  Halfway her career, the shippers son and his wife took over the ownership of the barge.  Begin of 2014, ‘Lucie’ took her well deserved retirement and transferred to her new owners. The last trip as the original barge was on the 16th of February 2014 from the city ‘Evergem’ to the city ‘Harelbeke’ for the big construction works. The first trip as the new houseboat was on the 24th of July from the city ‘Harelbeke’;  to the city ‘Izegem’. From then on, ‘Lucie’ would start a new life as a house for permanent living.

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The shippershouse

​At the very start of the transformation, it was already clear that the original shippershouse would be kept as much as possible in its original state. This place is so authentic that it would be unforgiveable to change it. This living in completely separated from the main house. The entrance is via the steering cabine, where you can image how it feels to drive this ship. From this cabin, the decent via the small stairs into the original shippers house. In front, you find 2 “cages’, which are typical bedrooms on a ship. Persons up to 1.85m will just fit. In the living, you find a sofa which can easily be converted to a full size bed. You will find all facilities to make you stay as practical and comfortable as possible.

We wish you a pleasent stay at B&B spits-Lucie.