Dutch school holiday/busy period dates?

[LittleSister]

We were hoping to go over to the Netherlands this July, but I gather (from the Brian Navin pilot) it gets rather crowded over the school holidays periods in July and August.

Is that the whole of July and August? Or does anyone know more precise dates so we can sneak over in July before they let the little dears/blighters loose?

 

[sailorman]

the Dutch skools stagger the holidays
there are the 3 reigons North,South Holland & Zeeland each starta a week later so a 3 week stagger.
dont know any dates though

 

[Wunja]

Info can be found here for holidays between 2008 and 2012 Dodgy google translation

 

[Gwylan]

Just learn that working boats go first and resign yourself to a less than gentlemanly melee at locks, rafting up 9 or more deep and a shortage of potato salad everywhere.
You can spend nights at anchor almost anywhere - but not discharge 'black water'
And you have absorbed the threads about Schengen, paperwork, red diesel and holding tanks?
Otherwise a wonderful place and we shall miss it dearly. Leaving a space for you in Terneuzen

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

hee hee... how very true....

3 or 4 seasons ago, we were heading for a lock in Sth Holland and SWMBO had a right go at me.... "fer christ sake, do you have to sit right up that boats backside at 6 blummin knots"

I responded.... "look over yer shoulder"....

She stopped complaining when she nearly hit her head on the pulpit of the boat behind us......

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Stork_III]

OK up to 3rd week july.

 

[Leighb]

That is good news, we plan to be there 8th June to 1st July.

 

[Santana379]

I use this website for the Dutch School holidays.

http://www.jours-feries.com/statique/index_pays2.html

 

[LittleSister]

Many thanks for the info, one and all.

I remember the lock melee from a trip there many years ago (mid 80's) - We were in a 15 ton (Displacement, not Thames) long-keeled ferro boat, and were having kittens as little motorboats etc. would nip in front of us, because we knew that if we squeezed them they'd just go pop.

That's partly why I wanted to try to avoid going when it's at its busiest (though work limits available dates).

Wondered also about taking a big bit of cloth (super-dodgers?) we could drape around side and back of the boat, with big letters reading, in German and Dutch, 'HARD TO STEER. NO BRAKES!"

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif