Ward Hulselmans enjoys being on the water
- By Matthias Vanheerentals, Maritiem Courant, 01/12/2020
The well-known Flemish screenwriter Ward Hulselmans has stopped writing. Now that he has put down his pen he frees up time for his passion for sailing. He prefers sailing in French waters.
Ward Hulselmans (70) wrote the scenarios for successful series for Belgian television, such as Niet voor Publikatie, Heterdaad, Witse, Stille Waters and Salamander. Recently he got tired of writing screenplays and made more time for his new love: the water. He has had a passion for shipping since childhood. "As a boy I used to wander through the port of Antwerp", he says. "Those ships always made me dream. I always came back to the port to look around and dream."
French Waterways
Twenty years ago he bought himself a boat, a Norwegian model. "Those Scandinavian models are very solidly built. They are polyester boats that are very stable and reliable. My boat is a little bit longer than eight metres and ideal to live on it for a few months, together with my wife. From May to September I'm on the water the most. I make trips of six to seven weeks and in between I can always be found on the water. First I was on the Kempen Canal. Then I mainly went on the Walloon and later on the French waterways, even as far as Paris and Reims. It is my way of life. You are completely in the middle of nature. It makes you receptive to many impressions that would otherwise be lost."
Solidarity and togetherness
Ward Hulselmans has found peace on the water. "Many people who live on the water have found balance in their lives. They are very calm in all circumstances and difficult to get out of balance. In the marina I can immediately recognize the people on the boats. During my career, I also wrote on the boat. That was much faster than at home." There is always a great solidarity among the boatmen. "There is togetherness, whether it's inland, pleasure or commercial boating. We rely on each other and help each other. And that's certainly necessary in France. Some of the canals are becoming overgrown and dilapidated. The locks are small and vicious and can even be dangerous. Ports are sometimes rare and basic."
"Many people who live on the water have found balance in their lives."
- Ward Hulselmans, EX-JOURNALIST AND SCENARIST
Privileged witness
Besides his pleasure boat, Hulselmans now has time for his other passion: sailing as a passenger on large cargo ships. He does this with CptnZeppos, a small travel agency that specialises in cargo trips. Hulselmans was the first passenger to book there. "I really wanted to seek adventure and write about it. That gives me peace of mind. It has really been an eye opener. You see how important the shipping industry is for the economy." The contact with the crew also went down well. "You're not part of the crew, but a privileged witness. You live as the only passenger with the crew in a totally different world of working, sleeping and eating."
Power of nature
Hulselmans has never been afraid on such a ship. "Along the quay the ship looks big, but at sea you're just a pin head tall. Only then do you realise how small you are. Only then did I really see the power of nature. At a certain moment we became a plaything at sea, in the Bay of Biscay. We were rolling from left to right. Standing on the bridge of the ship, about fifty meters above the sea, I thought several times that the containers would fall off, but that did not happen. Only my cabin was upside down (laughs)."
Ward Hulselmans wrote down his experience in his latest book Enkele Reis Realiteit, published by Manteau.
READY TO START YOUR ADVENTURE?
Welcomeaboard.
Your story starts with telling us on which sea or ocean you want to spend your time and when you want to start your adventure.
CONTACT US