Heading to Amsterdam

[Lee888]

Hello,
I am aSouth Coast sailor heading to the IJsselmeer in a couple of weeks. It seems I have a choice, head north staying west of the TSS until East of Margate, then crossing the TSS (coming SE to do so) then heading up towards Hoek van Holland or: crossing before or at Dover then sailing up the French / Belgian / Nederlands Coast. The latter seems to involve an awful lot of shallows and sandbanks if staying outside the TSS.

I will, weather permitting, be doing the trip in one hit.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lee

 

[Boz]

It sounds as though you are a man with a mission

Have you considered the Mast-up route North from Vlissingen?

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Another possibility is to keep heading North across the Thames estuary all the way up to Lowestoft. A heading of 90° takes you to Imuijden without too much in the way. It has the advantage of avoiding the sandbanks all the way up the coast of France/Belgium/Nederlands at a point in the journey when you may be tired. Of course there are the sandbanks of the estuary to deal with but I always think they are far simpler than the other side!

 

[MoodySabre]

From the east coast many would go up to Lowestoft and then straight across to Ijmuiden.

I have come back via Rotterdam and the Hook of Holland - blimey there's a lot of ship dodging required.

I went to the Ijslemeer by a gentle poodle up through the rivers and canals from Flushing but it was a deliberately slow trip.

 

[DanTribe]

This doesn't really answer your question, but for what it's worth, here's my two pennyworth.
My preferred route is Ramsgate, crossing the TSS about Mid Falls then Sandettie bank and cross the West Hinder TSS about Ruytingen N. Then Nieuwpoort / Ostend /Vlissingen, depending how we feel.
This involves a bit of sand bank dodging off Dunkerque but it's not very onerous. Mind you, I don't think I would want to be there in rough weather.
Crossing the TSS at the points mentioned is usually fairly easy, not heavily trafficked. This route usually means that we can do it mostly in daylight, and you have some easy ports of refuge if the weather changes.
Hope you have a good trip.

 

[Pye_End]

It may well be that the wind direction on the day will decide for you.

Otherwise, if you go up the side of the continent then you have a few more options of somewhere to stop if the conditions turn against you.

 

[stevebrassett]

Don't go to the Heineken museum unless you just want to learn about Heineken advertising.

Can't help with the sailing - I've never sailed abroad.

 

[claymore]

Have spent a few hours in Ijmuiden waiting for the ferry home.
Access to the Canal into Amsterdam looks very straightforward with A clear traffic light system and a big waiting pontoon.
If it was me crossing, I'd factor in the wind being right on the nose - all the way!

 

[Lee888]

Thank you all for your assistance. Very helpful.
I shall def not go to the Heineken museum.