Man’s 54-Year-Long Quest for Truth Ends as Lost Fishing Boat TX26 Finally Found
after 54 years, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of TX26, a Dutch fishing boat, has finally been solved. Bert Visser, who was six years old when the news of the boat’s disappearance reached his birthday party, has spent his entire life searching for answers. His relief is palpable: "I think I’ve looked at [the documentary] at least 50 times this week, and I’m not exaggerating," he laughs.
The discovery of the TX26 was made possible by Stichting Onderzoek Maritieme Vermisten, a foundation that investigates maritime missing persons cases. The boat had been lost on its way back from the North Sea in 1967, with the body of its mechanic, Gerard van der Star, being the only trace ever found.
Bert wasn’t the only one desperate for closure. Marga, daughter of Gerard van der Star, has long struggled with the lingering questions about her father’s fate. "Every year on my birthday, I’m reminded of my father’s disappearance," Bert shares. "But this year, instead of sadness, I felt a sense of peace knowing where the boat is."
While the exact cause of the sinking remains unknown, Marga finds solace in finally knowing where her father’s remains lie. "We don’t need to find anything else now," she says. "We know where he is, and that’s enough."
The premiere of the documentary ‘De tijd zal het leren’ (Time Will Tell) was an emotional event for all involved. "I was sitting next to my aunt, my father’s sister, and we were both crying," Marga recollects. Despite the emotional roller coaster, the premiere brought a long-awaited closure to a painful chapter, with many relatives finding comfort in finally knowing the truth about their loved ones’ final resting place.
