News

Friday 19 september 2025

Crew stories: June, the Swiss Knife of Merlijn

Hi, I’m June, and I’d love to share a little about my work on board the Merlijn. My role is very hands-on and versatile, that’s why the crew and guests sometimes call me “The Swiss Knife.” I help with mooring and unmooring the ship, assist guests with their bikes, serve behind the bar, support in the kitchen during dinner, and take care of maintenance both inside and outside. In short: I work all around, and I enjoy being approachable and ready to help wherever needed.

What I enjoy most about my work is the travel experience. Every tour amazes me with the beautiful places we visit, and it often feels like I’m traveling while working. I also love the variety, every day is different, and that keeps things exciting.

I first joined Merlijn thanks to Cristina and Coen, who gave me the opportunity to become part of this great team. Working on the rivers of Europe while meeting people from all over the world has been a fantastic adventure.

In my free time, I like to relax, stay active, and keep in touch with my family back home. Whenever I get the chance, I also enjoy exploring new places.

For me, the most enjoyable part of working on the Merlijn has been the people, both guests and crew. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of such a warm and friendly atmosphere, and it makes me happy to see our guests leave with wonderful memories of their trip.

Merzig to Nancy/Frouard

October 16 - 23 / 2021
Fantastic Trip!! Exceeded all expectations. Not just saying that but it was great. Capt Coen and Christia and crew did a fantastic job. The boat is spotless- inside and out, the activities and food was fantastic. Also- Christina worked with us as we are vegans without making us feel arkward. Ilse the \"Bike Wrangler\" did a great job leading us on great bike trips and the entire crew worked with the weather to make the best of one rainy windy day. Highly recommend this trip as \"bucket list\" trip except I want to do some more bike barge trip with the Merlijn.