From Dover up the Belgian coast

B

BelleSerene

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Sep 2005
Messages
3,423
Visit site
We're going to be in Kent shortly (before and probably after a trip up the Thames), and I'm thinking about heading over to the Belgian coast for a few stops, which would have to be broken by a few nights and some flights or ferries (limitations of a working lifestyle).

Which harbours would forumites recommend? I'm interested to get as far as Antwerp but not further (in this trip anyway). I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
 
Belleserene - You'll get a good welcome in Oostende - choice of yacht club basin or marina through lock - supermarkets to provision the boat; beer aplenty; great moules-frites and other nosh in loads of good restaurants.

Easy pilotage and entrance 24hrs too
 
Oostende is nice, because you are in a town centre (Mercator harbour, inside a lock). The same is true for Blankenberg. Nieuwpoort and Zeebrugge are worth visiting, but not quite so nice. Breskens or Vlissingen at the entrance to the Westeschelde and Terneuzen a little way down. In Antwerp, there's a choice between Linkeroever on the West bank and the town pool near the city centre. (Sorry, just forgot the name of that marina). Ah! Willemdok Jachthaven
 
Last edited:
RAI said:
Oostende is nice, because you are in a town centre (Mercator harbour, inside a lock). The same is true for Blankenberg. Nieuwpoort and Zeebrugge are worth visiting, but not quite so nice. Breskens or Vlissingen at the entrance to the Westeschelde and Terneuzen a little way down. In Antwerp, there's a choice between Linkeover on the West bank and the town pool near the city centre. (Sorry, just forgot the name of that marina).
Click to expand...

Zeebrugge :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
 
Oostende is OK - the Mercator can be crowded and restricted by tides. Go up the far end to the Royal something or another - bit scruffy but has all the necessary and you can get the tram into town, if the walk is too much. Buy a ticket with 5 or 10 trips on it, it's loads cheaper than buying a single ticket.
Dunkerque is fun, never managed only one night there. Do not get involved with the Volvo agent there! Yacht Club Mer du Nord is good and sheltered.
Nieuwpoort is good, can be fun up the channel if there has been a dinghy race. Airforce Club is good, the Royal Nieuwpoort is also good, can be a trek to the facilities. Easy for diesel fill up and here is a supermarket very near The bar - cafe nearby is excellent.
Zeebrugge in the old Vissershaven is good - can be a challenge to get the code for the gate and the facilities.
Breskens is good, great swindlery, loads of cafes, but a few too many Rupes.
Vlissingen is nice, the old harbour is fun to be in the centre. Do not go through the sea lock, unless you intend to use the canal to Middelburg [ worth a visit for SWMBO] and on to Veersemeer.
Terneuzen, nice place, spent a happy 3 years there. Can be bumpy when the big boats go past the marina entrance.
Then Antwerp, only worth going to to say you have been there. Go to the Royal Liberty Yacht Club - cafe, bar, restaurant is good. For comfort and ease call ahead and time your arrival around HW ! Can take the pedestrian tunnel under the river or a tram to town. Avoids going through all the locks to go into the port.
Or take the canal at Hansweert and go to Wemeldinge or Yerseke - my favourite of the two. Pay particular attention to the withies and the buoyage into Yerseke.
Wemmel can be interesting in the wind has north in it and you find yourself pinned to the pontoon or unable to make it without a courageous drive straight at it.
 
snowleopard said:
If you stop in Ostend it is a short train ride to Bruges which is a real 'must see'.
Click to expand...

No, it isn't.
Disappointing tourist rip-off.

By train, Ghent is only further down the line and far more worthwhile.
At least it feels like a living town and not an open air museum past it's prime.
The town centre in particular is very, very nice.

Click
 
Nieuwpoort is our favourite. It's only 50 miles from Ramsgate. The restaurant at the KYCN yacht club is the best in Belgium :) The long piers are a lovely walk and you can hire a fascinating shrimp net device. The beaches are sandy and the chandlery has a mid summer sale with 75% off Musto HPX :D
 
I must add my "YES!!!" to Snowleopard's recommendation of Bruges (Brugge). It is heaven. Compact and endlessly beautiful. And with a wholesome supply of strong beer.

WindyOut (or in this case WindigUit)
 
Sailorman, I'll do a deal with you: if you prefer to drink your Trippel among the grey concrete that is Brussels, or the post-tristesse blocks of Nieuwpoort, I'll bestride the sunny square in Bruges and maybe do a canal trip with the Pentax brigade. One pays one's money an' all that :D

Windy
 
WindyOut said:
Sailorman, I'll do a deal with you: if you prefer to drink your Trippel among the grey concrete that is Brussels, or the post-tristesse blocks of Nieuwpoort, I'll bestride the sunny square in Bruges and maybe do a canal trip with the Pentax brigade. One pays one's money an' all that :D

Windy
Click to expand...

attachment.php


Here @ Dawn Pistols or Swords or Duval
 
Last edited:
You can get up to Ghent with the mast up, via Terneuzen lock.

Ramsgate-Oostende-Terneuzen/Flushing would be my recommendation

Dunkerque and Zeebrugge are busy industrial ports with zero charm, they are however good all-weather ports.

Nieuwpoort YC is miles from civilisation, and is just artificial.

Blankenberge is nice, close to town, but has a -1.5m sill at LLW in the approach channel, worse as the summer progresses (they dredge in spring). But if you arrive at LW+3, it's a recommendable smaller alternative to Oostende.

Don't even think of trying the Westerschelde without detailed maps (Dutch hydrographic institute 1803 series folio).

WARNING: WORK STILL IN PROGRESS IN APPROACH OF OSTENDE PORT: so lots of ships circling the entrance, west wooden pier has been removed, temporary approach buoys in place. Check Notice to Mariners.
 
Last edited:
kingfisher said:
You can get up to Ghent with the mast up, via Terneuzen lock.

Ramsgate-Oostende-Terneuzen/Flushing would be my recommendation

Dunkerque and Zeebrugge are busy industrial ports with zero charm, they are however good all-weather ports.

Nieuwpoort YC is miles from civilisation, and is just artificial.

Blankenberge is nice, close to town, but has a -1.5m sill at LLW in the approach channel, worse as the summer progresses (they dredge in spring). But if you arrive at LW+3, it's a recommendable smaller alternative to Oostende.

Don't even think of trying the Westerschelde without detailed maps (Dutch hydrographic institute 1803 series folio).

WARNING: WORK STILL IN PROGRESS IN APPROACH OF OSTENDE PORT: so lots of ships circling the entrance, west wooden pier has been removed, temporary approach buoys in place. Check Notice to Mariners.
Click to expand...

Are you sure its the western Pr :confused::confused:

archief_detail.php


http://www.infometeo.be/oostende/webcam3.php
 
Last edited:
Gwylan is a bit disparaging about Antwerp. Apart from the mosquitos, we had a pleasant stay there a few years ago. You can take bikes through the tunnel if you're that side, and a visit to Rubens' house is worth doing. I ordered a ham sandwich in town and got an enormous plateful of Ardennes ham + garnish for about four quid, and the evening meal was even better.
 
I've heard talk of Antwerp port reopening the old lock for pleasure craft, significantly shortening the entry time to Antwerp's Willemdok and unlike Lineroever, at all states of tide. There are a a lot more facilities on the Antwerp side.

If you are feeling a little more ambitious, take the canal down to Brussels and moor at the Brussels Royal Yacht Club (www.bryc.be).
 
BelleSerene said:
We're going to be in Kent shortly (before and probably after a trip up the Thames), and I'm thinking about heading over to the Belgian coast for a few stops, which would have to be broken by a few nights and some flights or ferries (limitations of a working lifestyle).

Which harbours would forumites recommend? I'm interested to get as far as Antwerp but not further (in this trip anyway). I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
Click to expand...

Trip up the Thames? Well, suppose you have to do it once, otherwise the least rewarding of all the spots on your trajectory! If you go, stop in at Limehouse rather than St Cats - less cost, DLR trains, and all the facilities without the hassle of the St Cats locks!

Nieuport has attractions - nice old brick buildings and rather pretentious restaurants. But if you're weather bound, no probs - just hop on the tram and do the compete coastline of Belgium in 100mins one way. Stop anywhere and have some frittes!

Ostende has terrific restaurants within reach of the budget. Stay away from the sharpies on the pier and seafront. Great fresh fish at the market. Have I ever had a rubbish meal in Belgium, I think not!

Zeebrugge - stupendous fresh fish selection round the port. Get a wad of prawns, mayonnaise and a drink - heaven!

Breskens has village charm and more fish. The clubhouse at the marina is a true watering hole and is "gud with fud! "

Antwerp is the heart of your trip - a major river and lots to see en route. Go Breskens to Antwerp in one tide, and arrive on the high if you want to get into Linkerover. The town is history itself, and has a terrific atmosphere. Go to the cathedral and soak up the Rubens. Get in when the organ is playing - a major acoustic experience. Feel your soul!

I shouldn't go on - too many might get ideas of going there........

PWG
 
Nieuwpoort: easy entrance, hardly any commercial traffic, 3 clubs with lots of pontoons.
1 KYCN on west bank, closest to entrance, closest to town centre and restaurants, very nice wooden walkway to the beach.
2 VVW on east bank, will always find a vacant berth, good restaurant with breathtaking view across the harbour, 15' walk into town.
3 WSKLum, the Air Force Club, welcoming, good restaurant and facilities, 20' walk into town.
Oostende: easy entrance but you may have to wait for ferries entering or leaving; harbour entrance is being reconstructed
1 RNSYC in Montgomery Dock on east bank just behind the beach, can get crowded in season, harbour master is a character. Very good restaurant in the club, dozens of restaurants within 5' walk
2 Mercator Haven, through a lock, limited facilities and number of places, surrounded by busy roads.
3 RYCO right at the back of the harbour, next to the busy coastal road. Very nice club house. Either a long walk into town through desolate harbour or take a tram.
Blankenberge: harbour entrance tends to silt up, watch leading line and depth sounder. Do not go in when the wind is onshore and over 6 Bft. 4 clubs, each with their own pontoons. If you like seafood, you must try De Oesterput, at the root of the western breakwater: huge, very crowded in season, but good.
Zeebrugge: very busy commercial harbour, so you often have to wait, approach always bumpy due to fast currents and reflected waves around the breakwaters. Marina quite a long way in, but perfectly sheltered. Good food in clubhouse, plenty of restaurants around the marina, shops or beach a long hike.
Westerschelde: Breskens preferable over Vlissingen as it enables you to stay out of the very busy shipping channels
Antwerp: through the locks and into Willemdok if you want to be very close to the heart of a wonderful city, alternatively the yacht basin on the Left Bank if you don't mind the long walk into town through the pedestrian tunnel.
Enjoy your trip.
 
Tin Tin said:
No, it isn't.
Disappointing tourist rip-off.

By train, Ghent is only further down the line and far more worthwhile.
At least it feels like a living town and not an open air museum past it's prime.
The town centre in particular is very, very nice.

Click
Click to expand...

Look, Brugge has Belgian's smallest window. Which is an absolute must-see. From the outside, at least.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top