Period 1916-1974
The IRIS was commissioned by "The Nereus Shipping Company" in 1916. As a herring lugger she made five voyages north to the vicinity of the Shetland Islands. As "Pallas" she remained in the herring fishery for ten years. Fortunately, the ship suffered no damage during and after the war.
When herring fishing is no longer profitable in 1920, the Pallas is sold to Sweden. There it is converted into a cargo ship and renamed "Age". From then on, the ship sailed for more than 40 years from Svendborg in the Baltic Sea and the Bothnian Gulf.

Period 1974 - 2001
In 1975, the lugger returns to the Netherlands and is converted into a seaworthy sailing vessel. It is now called "Geesje van Urk" and is used for sailing and management training.

Period 2001 - until today
In 2001 Ben takes over the ship and changes her name to IRIS. IRIS is the goddess of goodness and is sent by the supreme god Zeus to bring good messages to the people. Equipped with a torch and beautiful wings, she is carried by the rainbow and is faster than the wind. The IRIS also wants to bring good and is a fast ship of its kind. The accommodation on board is comfortable and the ship is suitable for worldwide sailing.

For multi-day cruises, there is room for 8 to 10 guests in one of the five double cabins. The 2-person cabins are equipped with washbasins, hot and cold running water and storage space. Up to 36 people can come aboard for day cruises. The spacious lounge, with its ample seating area and separate dining area, provides ample space for various activities such as socializing, dining, as well as workshops, training and meetings.