Going Dutch

[tamise]

We're thinking of spending a month or so cruising the Dutch Inland Waterways this summer. As it will be our first trip there it would be great to have any advice about what we can expect.
Are there any places which are a must to visit, or any routes which are particularly interesting?
thanks
tam

 

[DepSol]

I understand that the cafes are a nice place to visit as they sell these wonderful fags with no filter...aaaaaaiiiiiii.

There is also this well wicked district where the locals are only allowed to use red light bulbs...for real.

Ali

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Its best you read back copies of MBM for reports of cruises in company to Holland. They've done loads
We liked Veere, Monnickendam and the Verse Meer. Amsterdam is worth a visit but dont park your boat there as there is a lot of theiving about
Other tips. Fuel up in Belgium because diesel is still low duty like UK. Respect the speed limits as the Dutch filth are pretty hot on that kind of thing. Dont go during August as the world and his wife are on the water. Have patience because you can wait a long time for locks and bridges to open even though the Dutch are pretty efficient. Take plenty of anti mozzy repellent as the mozzies around some of the inland lakes have to be seen to be believed

 

[miket]

Agree with Mike.
Moskitoes worst in May/ June. Not bad after that.

Been 4 times myself. Great boating.
Prefer the southern part from Wilhemstadt south.
Wlhemstadt, Zieurikzee, Goes and Middleberg = musts.
Grevelingmeer = quieter with big Island with mooring "bay" for non town mooring.
Brewershaven, also Grevelingmeer apparently very nice.
Veeresmeer is quite busy, especially weekends, as are locks between various Meers, but are also big so don't usually wait long. Don't be too polite when the signals on the lock go to green!!

I think best plan is to go in at Rompotsluis (Zieurikzee), or Ijmuiden if going into Ijselmeer, go north as far as you want and then work south coming out via Middleberg and Walcheren Canal. This last is quite slow because of all bridges.
The Fresian Islands are meant to be very pretty. (north end of Ijselmeer)

Buy the Dutch Hydrographic Office charts for the inland seas. Usually available over hear (Kelvin Hughes and others). Canal charts available in Holland if you go further north.


Red fuel is available in Holland for commercial craft, and you can sometimes persuade them to sell it to you, but only if you say you are on your way home. (leaving Dutch waters).
The fines for having red diesel in tanks, unless you can satisfy them that you have just arrived or are just going, are pretty steep. Up to you.

Have a super time.

 

[coliholic]

What boat do you have and which route are you thinking of?

We did the MBM cruise last year (search through the archives and you'll find the write up) and we did Ramsgate to Nieuwpoort then to Vlissingen. Into the canals there and then Veerse Meer, (don't miss that, some pretty places and good harbour at Kortgene). Other good stops that we made were Brouwershaven and Goes were the best. Wouldn't bother with Delta Marina at the top of the Grevelingemeer unless you've got young kiddies. There's lots to do for them there, but a bit "holiday camp ish".

One that we didn't go to by boat, but did visit by car, was Zierikzee, and I'd definitely do that by boat next time.

Don't know much about further inland, we were only there 10 days, but there's tons to do and the Dutch are really friendly and helpful. Make sure you get the Deel 1 Almanac before you go, it's in Dutch but a legal requirement and the water police will fine you if you haven't got a copy. Can't remember the proper name, but someone'll tell you.

Oh and when you're going through the locks, as soon as the light goes green, GO FOR IT. No one queues or waits their turn it's just a free for all. Have plenty of fenders out and just look straight ahead. Great fun

Dave Bagshaw, erstwhile poster hereabouts, has a lot of detail on his website about Holland, but I can't remember what the site address is, but you can find it by doing a search,

 

[tamise]

Thanks for the help. I wish now we'd kept all our old MBMs. After hoarding them for about ten years, we dumped a load. I bet they would have been useful!!!

For anyone considering a similar trip here are some useful websites given to us by a contact in The Netherlands:-

ANWB web site for buying maps of Dutch Inland Waterways-

http://basic.anwb.nl/basic/sh_sswaterkaarten.htm

http://www.staandemast.nl/ -

Information about many Dutch Yacht Harbours mostly in Dutch, but with
phone numbers and photos
http://www.allejachthavens.nl