Blog
Working Slowly is not a Waste of Time
Why Working Slowly Is Not a Waste of Time We live in a time where speed and productivity have become the norm. Everything has to move forward, preferably all at [...]
Wood Strip Canoe workshop
An Accessible Building Method The wood strip method is, to me, one of the most beautiful ways to build a wooden canoe. It is refined yet accessible, technically well thought-out [...]
A Three-Day Canoe Journey on the Semois
Discovering the Beauty of the Semois Saturday morning, nine o’clock. I am standing with a group of Dutch friends by the small church in Tintigny. They are already impressed. The [...]
Our Wood Library
Building with What the Landscape Gives Us For years we’ve been building canoes and paddles in wood. It was a natural choice for people like us, people who spend a [...]
Making a Greenland Paddle
Making a Greenland Paddle in our Workshop In the workshop, the wood was already waiting before anyone had drawn a pencil line. Straight beams of western red cedar, light in [...]
Why We Paddle Wooden Canoes
Why Wooden Canoes Feel Different There is something about wood that can’t be captured in numbers. Anyone who has ever taken a wooden canoe onto the water knows it. It’s [...]
Carve a Canoe Paddle Workshop
Building a Canoe Paddle in One Day The Carve a Canoe Paddle workshop at Freeranger Canoe have something simple and something timeless about them. You arrive in the morning empty-handed [...]
The silence beneath our feet
While the evening news speaks of drones and violence, the quietest news passes unnoticed: the disappearance of the soils that carry us. Forests, grasslands, and peatlands quite literally keep the [...]
Responsible Recreation in Fragile Nature
Seeking Balance There are days when nature speaks to me in two voices. One is the urge to move: to paddle, to climb, to cycle, to run. The other is [...]
Solid Wooden Canoe Paddles
Handmade from European Ash In our workshop we make solid wooden paddles in the traditional way. Each model is based on historic designs, developed for practical use on flatwater or [...]
Restoration of a Traditional Wooden Canoe
A Classic Reborn: Restoration of a Traditional Wooden Canoe A few months ago, I had the opportunity to restore a remarkable wooden canoe. She belongs to a collector of vintage [...]
Between Rock and River
A Micro-adventure on Europe’s Oldest River After a sweeping bend in the river, the view opens up. A golden sliver of morning light spills across the towering limestone walls of [...]
Dry Suits, Dry Pants & Dry Tops
Dry Suits, Dry Pants, and Dry Tops: Which Is the Best Choice for You? With the new winter paddling season on flowing rivers just around the corner, we often get [...]
Canoeing and Photography
A Lifelong Passion for Photography and the Outdoors Photography has always been present in my life. From a young age, I was captivated by the magic of capturing images. I [...]
Adventurous Multi-Day Canoe Trip on the Meuse
A Paddling Feast Full of Natural Beauty The Meuse in Northern France is a river that never ceases to surprise, and during our recent multi-day canoe trip with a group [...]
Canoeing on the Kleine Nete
An Ode to Local Adventure After years of exploring remote and exotic places around the world, adventurer Alastair Humphreys returned to the roots of adventure: his own backyard. In his [...]
Mastering the Art of Canoeing
A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners Are you ready to embark on an adventure that will take you to serene lakes, meandering rivers, and exciting rapids? Canoeing offers a unique blend [...]
Winter Canoeing
Embracing the Chill, Winter Canoeing Adventures Winter canoeing holds a unique charm often overlooked by many who assume canoes should be put away until spring. Contrary to this belief, some [...]