A Dutch Cruising Guide?

[Emjaytoo]

Can anyone recommend a good Dutch Cruising Guide - in English or Dutch - covering the inland waters of the Delta region?

We already have the latest Brian Navin books and and old out of print Henry Levinson (?) book. Shame it's out of date (1988) as its very well written.

 

[heerenleed]

Hi KIm,

His name is Henry Levison and the last print was made in 1989. However, if it is well written, use it, I don't think anybody moved anything since. The only thing you really want to have are recent charts by the Netherlands Hydrogrqphical service at www.hydro.nl (English version available) I think you would need the 1803, 1805 and 1807 series, and if you want a Dutch chart of the Netherlands coast, add 1801. Here, you really do need recent charts, expecially if you wish to enter via Roompot or Slijkgat. These change frequently...If you have not visited this area before: don't try these two entrances in anything over SW5 or NW4, as around the 5 m line overfalls build rapidly, especially on the ebb. In stronger onshore winds, stick to the Westerschelde approach as it is much deeper and therefore safer. Also, you could use the Nieuwe Waterweg going to Rotterdam, but the big ships traffic is heavy.

If you need any specific info, let me know, I am a local and this area is really our daily cruising grounds..
cheers

Though the Dutch Delta is mostly tidal, the tides have been tamed in most areas. This keeps the streams quite limited, so sands tend not to shift much anymore. Also. the buoying system is clear and international, just follow the marked channels and you will be fine. It really is quite straightforward. If you think you lack important information about a certain plaice, just let me know.
cheers,

 

[Emjaytoo]

Peter,

Thanks for the link to www.hydro.nl . We already have the charts you mention, the notice to mariners site is very useful. We also have volumes 1 & 2 of the Almanak. Volume 2 being very useful for marina & harbour guides.

What we really want is something that tells us about the area - where is nice to go, where is a quiet anchorage with good holding, fishing ports that are charming, etc.

We already know that Goes and Zierikzee are worth going to, because we found out by going there, but what other harbours are worth a visit?

 

[heerenleed]

I hope you can go on an extended cruise, because there are many gems in the area...

Not to miss: (criss-cross through the area) Middelburg, Veere, Zierikzee and Goes obviously, (but do not ever pronounce Goes the way you think you should... The oe diphtongue is pronounced like ou in "you". The G is quite guttural and I will spare you this...) Willemstad, Middelharnis, even Bergen op Zoom though it is quite a walk to town; Brouwershaven, and a little hidden and unspoilt gem called Oltgensplaat if 1.6 m depth is enough for you.

Then there is Hellevoetsluis, former navy base from the 19th century, Vlissingen of course, Yerseke with its world-famous oyster-cultivation, St Annaland, nice little village with the most beautiful anchorage opposite the Sailing Club and restaurant, Steenbergen if you want to stock up with a supermarket next to the marina, Dordrecht, magnificent old town if you wish to tackle the railway bridge, or, if you venture this far N, even Rotterdam, our own little Manhattan on the R. Maas, only much nicer with magnificent contemporary architecture.

Anchorages are less obvious. I wrote about the St. Annaland one, which is really very nice, but in reality, as most of the area has no or very weak tidal streams, anywhere out of harms way (traffic-wise) is fine. Do test your holding putting your engine in reverse, some spots have better holding than others. Apart from St. Annaland, our favourite is Veere, just NE of the Veere entrance, approx. 1-2 cables from the shore in 8 m of water, well sheltered in a SW. In other wind directions, the small islands across Veere also offer good shelter and free pontoon mooring.

The S bank of the Haringvliet offers a lot of anchoring possibilities, again with good shelter against the prevail;ing SW winds. Scattered in the Veerse Meer and Grevelingen, you will find a lot of small pontoons, the ones in the Veerse Meer are free, for use of the Grevelingen facilitites you are supposed to buy a sticker (for a week or 10 days I think) or even a burgee for the whole season, not very expensive, but you can choose to anchor which is obviously free of charge.
Depending on when you plan to come over, there is a tiny little harbour in the island of Tiengemeten, which is quite interesting as the whole island has been cleared of all agricultural activities and inhabitants and has been given back to nature. There are walks over the island and there is a visitors centre, but the harbour can only accomodate 3 or 4 yachts on the east bank, as the west bank is used by the ferry from the mainland across. The N side of Tiengemeten offers no anchorage as it is quite deep and not well sheltered (it is not called Vuile Gat - Foul Gat - for nothing, but S of the island has possibilities and even has a limityed number of visitors moorings. You may be able to land a dinghy, never tried yed, but will soon...


Generally, the need of a (free) anchorage is much less than in the UK with marina prices probably less than half the UK prices... AND often, an old fishing harbour has bnow been transformed into marina, so many of them are quite scenic (Middelburg, Goed, Zierikzee, Brouwershaven, Willemstad, Middelharnis, Veere, Hellevoetsluis (the scenic part near the entrance not good in SW 4 or more) The only scenic marina in the area we consider expensive is Vlissingen but I wonder if you British agree....

How's this for starters.. I think I just wrote you a pocket version of a cruising guide...

Need to know specific things about specific p[laces? just tell me..

cheers
Peter

 

[Emjaytoo]

Peter

We keep our boat in The Veerse Meer, so are already familiar with Veere and the little islands. Last weekend we had a 4-day minicruise to Goes, Zierikzee & Sint Annaland. We will be back in September for a whole week and I will print off your "pocket version of a cruising guide" and take it with us. I haven't read it in detail yet, but a quick look suggests it will be very useful.

Thankyou very much.

 

[rickp]

Out of interest, how are you getting there when you go? I'd like to convince SWMBO that an extended stay in NL would be great, but the time to get there is an issue with her (which I can understand).

Rick

 

[Emjaytoo]

Rick

Have PM'd you.

 

[dickh]

Hi rickp, regarding your question regarding SWMBO, we got over this problem by SWMBO going over in a friends car; he came as crew and we met up in Breskens, which is only a short crossing to the inland waterways. My friend then returned in his car. Repeated for the return trip a fortnight later. All depends on weather, car insurance etc etc.
Holland is excellent, you and your wife will love it. We couldn't make it this year but hopefully next year perhaps with the grandchildren.
Alternatively do it in short hops - we've done Harwich to Ramsgate, Ramsgate to Ostende, Ostende to Vlissingen or Breskens.

 

[rickp]

Thanks - we've been before and really enjoyed it (as we have a dutch built boat). Particularly Zierikzee and Willemstad - though there are tonnes of places we've not been yet.

Its not the crossing by sea which is the problem, its leaving the boat over there and travelling over each time.

Rick

 

[heerenleed]

That depends entirely on where you are based...Ryanair Stansted-Eindhoven or Easyjet Stansted=Amsterdam, or else there is the Stena Line from Harwich to Hook of Holland, or Transeuropa from Ramsgate to Oostende. If you don't take your car it can be quite inexpensive. Only the Eurostar to Brussels is always too expensive...
Leaving the boat is neveer a problem if you find a good spot close to public transport...

cheers

 

[kingfisher]

A few hidden gems on the Dutch Delta:

Mooring bouys in the Oosterschelde (eg. mosselgat near Yerseke, two other trots of 5 have been laid by Rijkswaterstaat this summer, find out where)
Kortgene Landbouwhaven
Biesbosch Kreeks (depending on keel depth and mast height, but worth a dingy trip.
Tholen

 

[Emjaytoo]

We know the Kortgene Landbouwhaven very well! And a superb locatation it is too!