Taking a fishing boat to the Oosterschelde or the North Sea is a major tourist attraction in the Netherlands. Many people from the province of Zeeland and elsewhere retain good memories of such a day full of sea, wind, and sunshine.

Not so long ago, a staff association hired a fishing boat for one day. At the crack of dawn, a group of men and women had gathered together at the landing stage, armed with fishing rods, bait, and other fishing gear. The weather conditions could have been better. Even though the sun was shining and the temperature was pleasant, one could feel a stiff breeze.

Still, this wasn't going to spoil the fun! High spirited, everyone embarked and off they went to the fishing grounds.

Once there, the wind blew much harder than they had expected. Actually, offshore it was really storming. Soon some of the wannabe fishermen started to have a rough time. Some of them had already become seasick when the boat reached its destination and the anchor was dropped. The people with sea legs attached the bait to their hooks and started fishing. It turned out to be a fine place for catching fish, and many showed that they were not afraid of a bit of sea wind. Soon the people with unsteady sea legs and upset stomachs discovered that one could better stand on deck and in the wind than stay down in the warm, stuffy saloon. That's why some of them, despite their misery, decided to cast a fishing line overboard. .

Then it happened! While a fisherman was busy bringing in his catch, he suddenly had to "feed the fish," The worst part was that, along with the contents of his stomach, his false teeth vanished into the waves.

A few fellow anglers saw what had happened and immediately came up with a practical joke. In a corny mood because of the alcohol they had drunk, they persuaded another fisherman to take out his false teeth. Quickly, the dentures were tied to another fishing line and cast overboard.

All of a sudden, they yelled, "You're in luck today, Jan! Kees has caught your false teeth."

Full of disbelief, the unfortunate fisherman approached to take a look. It was true; there were indeed dentures dangling on the fishing line.

"You better try them," people suggested.

Jan put the false teeth into his mouth, but took them right out again and said, "They don't fit. Those aren't mine!" and he threw the dentures overboard instantly.

That's why that evening, two mumbling fishermen left the boat with toothless mouths, while the rest of their colleagues howled with laughter behind their backs.