On July 15, 1886, the Stavoren-Enkhuizen ferry service was officially opened. A connection that connected Noord Holland with Friesland and shortened the journey from Amsterdam to Leeuwarden by hours. In addition to transporting people, special ships were also used for goods. It took a while to get used to it. The competition between the various railway companies was fierce. It wasn't until the regulator signed a rail contract in 1890 that the situation improved for the ferry service as well. The state committee of Wouda decided in 1897 to move the goods with wagons "Ponten* (special ferries) between Stavoren and Enkhulzen across the Zuiderzee. This decision was taken to relieve the existing ferry service. In 1899 the first steam ferry was used, which, thanks to a unique design, could run over entire wagons. This made the costly and time-consuming loading of goods and cattle a thing of the past. The problem with the rails at low and high tide was solved very sensibly. When the ship arrived in port, it was wedged between a wooden brake system. In the meantime, the last piece of rail at the edge of the wall has been raised by 9 meters with a lifting bridge. Thus the pont could pass under the bridge and connect to the rails. The complete wagons were moved with the help of a push wagon, so that the locomotive could remain on the wall. There was space for 14 freight cars, 7 on the port side and 7 on the starboard side. The begging and goods transport increased rapidly, so that a second and third steamboat (pont) was used. In the record year 1916, 43,000 wagons were transported. The journey was very risky, especially in winter due to fog, storms and drifting ice. After 1916 the transport slowly decreased and after the construction of the dyke in 1932 the end was in sight. The service was discontinued on April 1, 1936. Passenger transport is still in operation to this day. The current ferry "Bep Glasius" has been supplying the ferry service between Stavoren and Enkhuizen for many years. It is now a tourist destination in the summer months Attraction. The ships: In 1899 the steam ferry "Stavoren* was put into service. Their dimensions were 66.50 x 12 meters. The ship was pushed by 2 legendary 2-cl com-pound steam engines 2 x 350 PK. In 1927 the "Stavoren" was sold to the Zuiderzee Works. Then sold on in 1968 and converted to a floating restaurant and party ship, she is now moored in Wormerveer. In 1902 the steam ferry "Enkhuzen" was deployed. Their dimensions were 66.80 x 12.20 meters. The ship was also pushed by 2 lying 2-cl compound steam engines 2 x 400 PK. In 1936 her service ended, and in 1937 she was used in the salvage work of the "Lutine". Her loading capacity was 929 tons. The last to be used was the steam ferry "Leeuwarden" in 1909. This ship also had the dimensions 66.80 x 12.20 and was pushed by 2 horizontal 2-cl compound steam engines 2 x 400 PK. She was rebuilt in 1937 and sailed to Venezuela where she is now used under the name Trinidad for supplication transport between Cludad Bolivar and Fort of Spain. Loading capacity: 900 tons.