A pedestrian ferry is a means to transfer pedestrians and / or cyclists from one side of the water to the other. In many places there are - sometimes centuries-old - ferry pavements that are partly still being used or used again. At ferries there are (historic) ferry houses, cafés, inns and stopping places. Many cities and villages have a Veer (ferry) Road, Veer Street Veer Quay. In addition to old techniques (for example, hand-operated ferries), modern techniques such as solar-powered ferries are developing.
Many ferries are manned by volunteers. They form a close-knit community with a great sense of responsibility for 'their' ferry. They proudly operate ferries that sometimes sail at the same location for centuries. The Friends of the Ferry Association is an interest group for users of (foot and bicycle) ferries in the Netherlands and has approximately 2,000 members.
In the past, ferries were almost the only connections between two banks. In the second half of the last century, the ferries seemed to have died because of the construction of (traffic) bridges. Everything quickly disappeared around it. Nowadays the importance of ferries is recognized again, especially for commuting, schooling and recreation. This has given a new boost to the old cultural heritage 'ferries'.
