A skûtsje is a Frisia

Frisia

Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...

n sailing boat of the type tjalk, originally an ordinary cargo boat, but today a prized ship and one of the icon

Icon

An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...

s of Frisia

Frisia

Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...

. Skûtsjes were built from the 18th century until about 1930 and are 12 to 20 m long and on average 3.5 m wide, with a maximum of 4 m (based on the standard dimensions of Frisian bridges and sluices).

In the 1920s and 1930s many skûtsjes were fitted with engines and after World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 the sails were even often removed. Nevertheless other, much larger, powered boats took over water transportation in the area and many skûtsjes were rebuilt into houseboat

Houseboat

A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a human dwelling. Some houseboats are not motorized, because they are usually moored, kept stationary at a fixed point and often tethered to land to provide utilities...

s or luxurious sailing yacht

Yacht

A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...

s. Over time, more and more were restored to their original state.

There is a yearly racing event in Friesland called Skûtsjesilen. Such races were already held in the early 19th century, but since 1945 they are regulated through a committee, SKS. In these races, each Skûtsje represents a city or village. In 1981 another organisation, IFKS, also started organising races. See also http://www.skutsjesilen.nl

This racing already started early in the 20th century where viliges in Friesland or more precisely often the bar and hotel owners made prices available for the winner. At that time the skipper and his family lived on board in a narrow cabin and before the race the family and the interior of the cabin was placed ashore to appear as light as possible at the start of the race.

The Skûtsjemuseum in Eernewoude (Frisian: Earnewâld) started building a new Skûtsje, out of wood at the old way, that is expected to be ready in 2008.

An annually held Skûtsje sailing cup is named after frisian folk hero Pier Gerlofs Donia

Pier Gerlofs Donia

Pier Gerlofs Donia was a Frisian warrior, pirate, and rebel. He is best known by his West Frisian nickname "Grutte Pier" , or by the Dutch translations "Grote Pier" and "Lange Pier", or, in Latin, "Pierius Magnus", which referred to his legendary size and strength. His life is mostly shrouded in...

's nickname Grutte Pier.

• J&J Griffin: The Quick Reference Guide to Dutch Barges, UK, 2007. Life At An Angle
• J&J Griffin: De snelle Gids van de Verwijzing voor Nederlandse Aken Life At An Angle