English
Nederlands
DeutschAmeland Horse sleighs
In the past few days, there was quite a bit of snow on Ameland. This was a reason for many Ameland horse owners to bring out the sleighs from the barn. An ancient tradition, and a wonderful sight to see!
There are still about 70 traditional sleighs on Ameland. Did you know that at Rijstal Le Cheval we also have two sleighs? Below you can see one of our sleighs a few years ago.
Ameland Horse sleighs – The difference between east and west
Ameland horse sleighs are made of wood. They have been used since the early 18th century and are characterized by their striking colors. Green sleighs generally come from the east side of Ameland, while light blue sleighs are from Hollum and Ballum.
The East and West sides of Ameland each have their own character and history. Until the 19th century, you could only cross from one side to the other during low tide. The east side, with the villages of Nes and Buren, was Catholic. The west side, with the villages of Ballum and Hollum, was Protestant. Only later, when the dikes were reinforced and religion had less influence, did the east and west become more connected. However, in many ways, the differences can still be seen, such as in the Ameland horse sleighs!
The story of Nobeltje
In January 1901 – an extremely cold month – a horse sleigh race was organized in Holwerd. To warm up, the participants went the pub of Willem Barend Nobel upon their return to Ballum. Does he have a pick-me-up? The innkeeper disappears into the kitchen and stays away until he has brewed a sublime drink for his frozen guests. What exactly is in that Nobeltje? That is the best-kept secret of Ameland!
Curious about the Nobeltje? Then take a look at the Nobel Ameland website!
Eilandkarakters Ameland birthday calendar
Did you know that the horses of Rijstal Le Cheval are featured on a birthday calendar? Our Groninger horse Kees can be seen in December, where he depicts the story of the Nobeltje!
This calendar is characterized by recognizable, typical Ameland locations, where we have created a unique setting with horses. Think of a horse in church, a galloping horse next to a plane taking off, or even a horse in a pub.
In addition to the calendar, we have expanded our range with postcards and other products. You can find them all in our shop.