T/S Rupel

The two-master "Rupel" was built by low-skilled unemployed people in Boom on the banks of the river Rupel. This project, which had the full support of the VDAB, was a hugely successful one, as building the ship taught skills such as woodworking, which made it easier for them to find a permanent job after the training.

The ship was launched in 1996 and since then it has mainly operated along the Belgian coast. In Rouen she has already participated 9 times in "l'armada du siècle, Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race", with varying success. They have also been going out to sea for a number of days with young people from the "Arktos" project from Leuven.