Dutch/Belgium inland waterways vlogs?

Murv

Murv

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Nov 2012
Messages
2,127
Location
Kent
Visit site
Anyone know of any good blogs/youtube videos of cruising the inland waterways? Keen to get a better idea of what we can expect but having trouble finding anything.

Another quick question too... The RYA site lists the various requirements of different countries. For Belgium, they list the requirement of having a "certificate to steer." I assume an ICC & coastal skipper is equivalent, or better, than that, is that correct?
 
I have been looking into this. The requirements will be on the RYA website. For the Netherland you will need the inland waterways ICC so will need the CEVNI exam.
I have not considered in Belgium but expect its the same.
 
If you Google Ocean Star Blog you will find our story of our passages from Chichester to Norway and back. We passed through the Dutch Inland Waterways in both directions so you may find the account of some assistance. In addition to the ICC with CEVNI endorsement you will need to carry Part 1 of the ANWB Dutch Almanac on board. This is a requirement although, being written in Dutch, it isn't much help unless you have the language. Part 2, which isn't mandatory, is more useful in that it carries information about bridge and locks with opening times, clearances, etc and also of marinas, stopping places and much more.

You won't regret it if you decide to go. A great country for boats and boaters of all kinds.
 
Last edited:
Many thanks both, sorry I should have made that clearer, I was really more referring to scenery etc rather than actual requirements.
Those I think I'm happy with, and am now most of the way through my checklist
The only query really was that specific Belgium requirement for certificate to steer but I'll check with the RYA.

Thanks for that IDAMAY, I shall have a google when I get home, sounds an interesting journey!
I've cheated a bit with the waterways regulations and downloaded them onto a tablet. Printing the entire document seemed totally OTT when I don't speak Dutch but I can, at least, provide a copy if requested to. At least the Rainwat regulations are only 42 pages!

We are going to go, first two weeks in August :) (weather permitting)
 
apollo said:
Ooh same here! We are planning to go to Bruges and maybe Ghent with couple of other boats from Windsor. See you in Ramsgate!
Click to expand...

Cool! I think we're skipping Ramsgate though, and heading straight to Nieuwpoort. Maybe see you over there? Or, inevitably, we'll be holed up in Ramsgate for the fortnight as storms lash the coast!
 
I believe this is incorrect & CEVNI only applies to boats over a certain size & speed. I'm hiring a boat in Holland in June & the hire company states no experience necessary.
 
stearman65 said:
I believe this is incorrect & CEVNI only applies to boats over a certain size & speed. I'm hiring a boat in Holland in June & the hire company states no experience necessary.
Click to expand...

And what is the size limit? Whether or not that is true it would IMHO be foolish not to have a good understanding of the CEVNI rules. You could, for example, get in a lot of trouble if you didn't know what is meant by a blue board exhibited by a massive barge. From memory it means they want to pass starboard to starboard and that's exactly what they will do. Failure to recognise the signal could result in a very nasty accident at worst or a very irate barge skipper at least. Hope you have a great time.
 
I think that is actually correct.
I seem to remember a fairly animated discussion with a friend who's cruised there a lot over the Years who swore blind he didn't need an ICC/CEVNI whereas I was positive it was required.
The penny finally dropped that in his sailing boat with maybe 8 knots available on a beam reach in a near gale, downhill... no, he didn't but with our 28 knot boat, we did!

I think the requirement is based on size and speed, possibly over 12 knots? But, I really can't remember. Bottom line is he didn't need one in a 45' ketch, we did with a 42' planing mobo.

Anyhow, as above, it would be extremely worthwhile to at least have a good working knowledge of the regs.
I swatted up enough to pass the exam, but I did, personally, find the signage a bit unintuitive and having a memory like a sieve I kept a copy of the RYA CEVNI book on the helm at all times for quick reference if required.
 
Hi,

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 vs CENVI rules, several differences in rules, lots of signs you should know, in addition to VHF guidelines that are used inland waters. You should have an ICC card with the addition of a CENVI motorboat or sailboat or both depending on your experience and the purpose of the boat. In some states there are still national rules that need to be clear and equipped in the boat.

CENVI rules and mark etc.
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/finaldocs/sc3/ECE-TRANS-SC3-115-Rev.5e_WEB.pdf

Boating inland and CEVNI



Code Européen des Voies de Navigation Intérieure (CEVNI) is the code governing navigation on the interconnected European inland waterways.

Signs, rules and procedures for navigating many of the European inland waterways are all included within the CEVNI and in the same way as pleasure craft on coastal waters are expected to abide by the COLREGS, pleasure craft on many of the inland waterways of Europe, which in places are heavily utilised by commercial traffic, are expected to know the CEVNI as this is the basis of many of the various countries' own regulations.

Resolution 40 requires that candidates applying for an ICC with the inland category validated have sufficient knowledge of the traffic regulations applicable on inland waters, in particular the CEVNI. The CEVNI is not covered in any of the RYA’s courses, even those specific to inland waterways, as these regulations are not in use in the UK. It is therefore necessary to have a separate theory test on the CEVNI regulations.

There is however no separate CEVNI certificate or CEVNI endorsement. Passing the ICC CEVNI test simply allows the Inland category on your ICC to be validated, thereby indicating that you have demonstrated knowledge of the traffic regulations applicable on inland waters, in particular the CEVNI, as required by the Resolution.

All candidates requiring the inland category validated must pass the ICC CEVNI test irrespective of whether the regulations are in force in the country or on the river, lake or canal where they intend to go boating.

NBs
 
Last edited:
Hi Idamay
I think you should engage brain before putting mouth into gear, so to speak. The leisure boating industry is massive on the continent, with literally thousands of hire & charter companies operating. Would you not think this would be possible if having a CEVNI qualification was a compulsory condition for the hirer??? Of course it isn't!!! rant over.
To set your mind at rest, I wouldn't dream of hiring a boat on Dutch inland waters if I didn't have some idea of what I was engaging in. My wife & I have owned our own sailing boats since 1995. This is the passage (no pun intended) from the company we are hiring from on the subject (You can sail on our boats without any licence. You don’t need a licence in Holland when your boat is shorter then 15 meters and as long as you don’t sail faster than 20 km per hour. Upon your arrival we will give you a instruction about the techniques. If you have no or little experience we advise to order a course of our special skipper training, our instructors teach you how to sail and manoeuvre a motoryacht.) Before we bought the first we obtained RYA qualifications, including Day Skipper, VHF & Race Officer. In 2001 we sold up & lived aboard our Moody 40 CC in the Med' for 3 years, & only swallowed the anchor due to my wife's illness. Luckily she recovered & we still in our late seventies love the nautical life. I am hoping our canal holiday will be a success & we will be able to understand the 214 pages of the "European Code for Inland Waterways" (CEVNI). The company we are hiring from are in Sneek & have various routes to sail depending on experience & what you want to see, we will be taking the "beginners" route as we want a quiet experience & have previously taken a dinner cruise in Amsterdam which is a very different kettle of fish, even with an experienced skipper. See http://www.yachtchartersneek.nl/en/ take a look a the sections on information & routes & set your mind at rest. If you decide to follow suit, let me know & the company may give me a discount. :sleeping::sleeping::sleeping:
 
stearman65 said:
Hi Idamay
I think you should engage brain before putting mouth into gear, so to speak. The leisure boating industry is massive on the continent, with literally thousands of hire & charter companies operating. Would you not think this would be possible if having a CEVNI qualification was a compulsory condition for the hirer??? Of course it isn't!!! rant over.
To set your mind at rest, I wouldn't dream of hiring a boat on Dutch inland waters if I didn't have some idea of what I was engaging in. My wife & I have owned our own sailing boats since 1995. This is the passage (no pun intended) from the company we are hiring from on the subject (You can sail on our boats without any licence. You don’t need a licence in Holland when your boat is shorter then 15 meters and as long as you don’t sail faster than 20 km per hour. Upon your arrival we will give you a instruction about the techniques. If you have no or little experience we advise to order a course of our special skipper training, our instructors teach you how to sail and manoeuvre a motoryacht.) Before we bought the first we obtained RYA qualifications, including Day Skipper, VHF & Race Officer. In 2001 we sold up & lived aboard our Moody 40 CC in the Med' for 3 years, & only swallowed the anchor due to my wife's illness. Luckily she recovered & we still in our late seventies love the nautical life. I am hoping our canal holiday will be a success & we will be able to understand the 214 pages of the "European Code for Inland Waterways" (CEVNI). The company we are hiring from are in Sneek & have various routes to sail depending on experience & what you want to see, we will be taking the "beginners" route as we want a quiet experience & have previously taken a dinner cruise in Amsterdam which is a very different kettle of fish, even with an experienced skipper. See http://www.yachtchartersneek.nl/en/ take a look a the sections on information & routes & set your mind at rest. If you decide to follow suit, let me know & the company may give me a discount. :sleeping::sleeping::sleeping:
Click to expand...

I am not sure what you meant about engaging brain, etc. I asked a question which you have answered. Like you I am in my 70s and we live on board the boat you see above. I have cruised the Dutch Inland waterways three times (though on smaller boats) so don't intend to hire there any time soon. I was just hoping to impart some useful advice. Even on the quiet routes you are likely to meet some commercial traffic. In my experience the barge skippers are real experts in boat handling but they take precedence and don't take prisoners. Anyway, I hope you have a peaceful and pleasant trip in a country with the greatest of boating set ups.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top