Superficially, many barges look similar. In England, broad beam barges are generally referred to as Humber barges or Thames barges, while all Dutch barges are referred to as just that — Dutch barges. Modern cargo barges, which are mostly Dutch in origin, come in a variety of styles. Some, such as the Luxe Motor and Tjalk Klippers are readily identified by the sweeping line of the hull, whereas the Belgian Péniche and Spitz have a relatively flat deck.
Tjalks, whose name derives from old Dutch meaning “Sailing Vessel”, have been around since the late 17th century. With a shape not dissimilar to a clog, they have seen widespread use as both cargo and passenger carrying vessels since their inception on the waterways of the Netherlands. Originally made from wood, iron Tjalks first saw production by the mid-19th century. By the beginning of the 20th century, the use of steel became more common, resulting in greater strength but with the potential for corrosion.
All modern barges have one thing in common – they were designed to navigate in shallow waters. Some barges were built to carry freight through shallow inland or coastal waterways; some were built for fishing in shallow waters. These barges can go anywhere where there is at least 3ft of water and the fixed bridges are more than 10 or 11 feet above water level.