This barge nowadays acts as a tourist attraction and has been somewhat adapted to be used to show people around the canals, the old city of Coevorden and former peat grounds of the Northern provinces of The Netherlands. Originally it was an almost empty hull (see original pictures) that was filled up with cargo, mostly peat, and that had some benches to transport people as well.
These type of boats were originally "powered" by women or even children (see original picture) that towed the boats from one side of the canal using ropes and long wooden beams.

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