Dutch canals info req

[aldeburgh]

We are leaving the east coast for Amsterdam soon and are looking for a scenic route south for about 10 days through the canal system ,before heading home across the north sea.
Could anybody advise on any good books etc
Thanks
Tim

 

[heerenleed]

From Amsterdam, there is only one mast-up route leading South. Much has been written about it, most is in dutch. you can find a PDF of our Ministry of Traffic and Waterways here. It is also in Dutch, but the chartlet gives a rough idea how it leads. In Amsterdam, or, if you stop there, in the IJmuiden marina you will find all the charts you need. There are two alternatives, one goes through Amsterdam, in concoy, and the S-going convoy starts at 2.00 AM. Not nice. The other alternative goes via Haarlem, a detour, but you can stay overnight in the middle of town and Haarlem is a gem. You will find that convoys form automatically, and if you follow the convoy you will get where you want to go. There are a couple of bottlenecks, and they are always railway bridges. Gouda is often a long wait, but it has excellent waiting pontoons. A short dinghy ride takes you to town, another gem.
Dordrecht is on a junction of 4 very busy waterways and you will always have to wait for the railway bridge to open. don't even try to moor aling the town quays as there is a lot of wash and damage is unavoidable. Better jill around or make the most of it and go into the marina and spend some time. Dordrecht, again, is a gem and it was the scenic route you wanted. Further SW, Willemstad is a must, after which you will enter the Zeeland Delta where there is too much to mention.

PM if you need any specific info. I am sure in the UK there will be a number of books and charts available. Here, non-Dutch documentation is a little bit harder to find.

cheers

 

[Mal113]

You do not say what type of boat? Assuming it is a yacht you could spend 4 days sailing around the Markenmeer and Ijselmeer and then use the “Stand Mast route’ south from Amsterdam to Vlissingen approx 6 days. If you wish to stop and see something of the local countryside then you could spend the whole 10 days on the stand mast route, as there are a number of nice places to visit.

The book for the stand mast route is available from most chandlers in The Netherlands; you could also consider “Cruise The Netherlands by Brian Navin”

 

[Colvic Watson]

[ QUOTE ]
Cruise The Netherlands by Brian Navin

[/ QUOTE ] Indispensible

 

[aldeburgh]

thanks for all of your input
tim

 

[sailorman]

one on ebay now.
its been relisted as no takers