Rolpalen
On the Oldehoofsch Canal, near Feerwerd, stands a roller post: a yellow-painted iron beam with an I-section and a wooden roller.
Take a closer look
In the past, these posts were used to assist in towing ships. In this process, tow barges were pulled by people or horses. Sailing ships were also sometimes towed in this way, for example when facing a headwind or in calm conditions. The rolpalen (also known as ‘rollepalen’ or ‘jaagpalen’) were situated at points where the canal bends. The rope between the boat and the person pulling it was looped around the turning post, with the rope rolling along a wooden or iron pulley. The skipper would then steer in the opposite direction to prevent the boat from hitting the bank. Most of rolpalen have now disappeared from the landscape, but in Groningen a considerable number have been preserved in their original locations.