Antwerp

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Peegee

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Have always intended to visit Antwerp on way back from regular visits to Netherlands but never made it ! This summer I am told is the 50th anniversary of the tall ships in Antwerp and would be a great excuse to make the extra effort. Anybody out there familiar with the city and marina facilities or where I can get more info. Have read up pilotage but dont want to struggle up there and find nowhere to moor.
Ta very much !
 
Living in Antwerp at the moment so can offer you a little help.
Head for the Willemdok. Its on the correct side of the river, as the other yacht harbours are on the left bank making it hard to get into town and you have to enter this harbour through a lock gate restricting your arrival and departure times.

From the Willemdok the center of Antwerp is within easy walking distance and there are some great restaurants to try.

http://www.jachthaven-antwerpen.be/01bf1c94590f45905/01bf1c945c11f9e04/index.html

The charts are clickable so you should figure out where it is.

This site is only in Dutch, if you need anything translated I will help.

Might even email the yacht club and tell them it would be more interesting for the tourism trade to have the site in English.

Tall ships will be in Antwerp from 19th to 22nd August.
http://www.tallships2006antwerp.be

Let me know if I can be of any more help.

regards
James
 
Thanks James. Will have a look into it all and post again if needs be.
Peegee
 
We've done Antwerp 3 times so far - a bit "out of the way" (long Schelde trip) but well worth it.

Most important bit: time your departure from Flushing/Breskens. You should aim to arrive at HW Antwerp. If you're good you'll have the tide giving you plenty of free wind/diesel.
Get the Dutch Hydro Chart Folder which covers the Schelde river. Lists all the different VHF channels to listen out on. You don't have to report anywhere, but it's nice to follow what's going on. LOTS of BIG traffic about. It's not for the fainthearted - think the TSS at Dover is busy? Think again! As long as you stay out the buoyed channel you should be fine.

Once you arrive off Antwerp I would go for the left bank (Linkeroever) marina. HM is very friendly (local CA rep). Access is 1hr either side of HW. You're next to the Antwerp "beach" (St Annekens strand) - plenty of bars and some good mussels restaurants.
If you want to venture into town a direct tram connection is only a 10min walk away, or you can take the pedestrian tunnel under the Schelde. Either way, you're 20mins away from city centre.

If you go for the Willemdok Marina (right bank) you have 3 locks to navigate from the Schelde and there's a fee to pay. That procedure alone is enough to make you want to think again. They don't lock just for a yacht, unless you're following in commercial traffic be prepared for a long wait.
The marina itself is fine, but in a more seedy part of town. OTOH the red light district is only a 5 min walk away. If you facy some "window shopping" you've saved yourself a trip to Amsterdam. Falconplein is nearby - the Russian maffia will sell you a "genuine" Rolex for a fiver.
City centre also about 20min walk away.

Leave at HW and the tide should carry you back to Flushing/Breskens.
If you've got some time try to stop at Lillo on the way back. Lovely little village on the right bank in the middle of nowhere. Remnant of the old ring of fortresses around Antwerp (WW I). Scaldis YC very friendly and there was a bar in main square where they had trappist (Westmalle) on draft. Bit blurry after that - spent the night alongside (Flandria berth) and caught the next tide the following morning. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

As I read back this post it seems like I'm talking myself into doing Antwerp again this year. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
If you intend to come to Antwerp during the Tall Ships stopover, it would be prudent to check with the harbourmasters of both marinas well in advance. Berthing is limited and the harbour will be extremely busy. On the other hand, the Tall Ships in Antwerp is always a great occasion and well worth the effort.
 
We use Antwerp regularly

just to add if you state you are overnighting in willam dok marina there is no charge for the locks etc . other wise a FD number has to be obtained and a fee paid, last time we paid it was 600 BF, this was before the willam dok was open for yachts. if coming via the rijn shelde verbinding report in by vhf call sign "noordland brug coordinatie" and give required details.

It can be a bit of a pain getting through the bridges etc.

Personally we prefer the left bank , old marina, or anchoring in the river it self, good for the overnight , but inconvenient for shore bound excursions.

see my web page for pics etc

chart pack 1803 cost 25.50 eur is required for the river passage.

From Hansweert locks leave at about 2 hours before HW for a good ride up river.


interesting overnight anchorage at perkpolder approx 51:24.31 n 4:00.30e very quiet when the tide drops off the sand bank to give shelter.

might see you there as we will be in the region at that time.
 
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