Ships that come under the general title of barge are usually ex-commercial carrying vessels that were used to transport cargo on the canals and rivers of Europe. There are also modern replica barges being built.

Size varies enormously but the vessels of around 80ft (25m) or less are the most popular. In their trading life, like British narrowboats, an entire family would have lived aboard in a small cabin at the rear of the boat, the rest of the ship being used for cargo. With a converted barge it is this old cargo area that becomes accommodation.