Holland or France

[scoty]

Anyone experience of living on board ,more than one winter in the dutch or french canals as I am thinking about going through both and spending a long time doing it, I ask any regrets, do·s or Don·nts.

Thanks in advance

 

[vyv_cox]

Several Dutch sailors frequent these pages and will probably be able to provide more information. When we lived in Holland the situation was that berthing at nominated points along the canals was free but only for a maximum of two weeks. It was then necessary to move elsewhere, often only a mile or so away, then repeat the process a fortnight later. Paying for a berth in a yard or harbour was different of course, and often very reasonable in price, in which case the boat could remain indefinitely.

 

[OldBawley]

I have been a liveaboard in both Holland and France.

Winter can be very very cold in Holland. I remember the yacht been frozen in more than two weeks on the Veerse meer, brackish water. The ice thick enough so the Dutch drove with cars over the lake. Twice a day I broke the ice around our wooden boat.
I was moored in a marina, living aboard was illegal. Although the whole town new me and new I was a liveaboard nobody cared.
For Holland in winter the yacht must be well equipped. I had a Refleks diesel heater and a wood burning stove.

Wintered on the Canal Du Midi also, with good heating no problem. The centre of France can be very cold. Frozen canals every winter.

 

[vyv_cox]

Winter can be very very cold in Holland. I remember the yacht been frozen in more than two weeks on the Veerse meer, brackish water. The ice thick enough so the Dutch drove with cars over the lake.

In 1997, the last time the Elfstedentocht skating race was run (I think) the ice on the Haringvliet was more than a foot thick. Skaters were everywhere in the marina at Hellevoetsluis. Despite this the harbourmaster told me that he had heard of no problems with boats being crushed, sunk, etc. That was a pretty exceptional winter, even the east side of UK was frozen solid.

A few years later we motored to Leiden to collect our new engine, several times breaking ice on the way. We left the boat at Alphen aan de Rhijn one weekend as a railway bridge ahead did not open on Sundays. Collected the boat next Saturday and motored on, with 30 cm of snow everywhere, including on deck.

 

[charles_reed]

I have been a liveaboard in both Holland and France.

Winter can be very very cold in Holland. I remember the yacht been frozen in more than two weeks on the Veerse meer, brackish water. The ice thick enough so the Dutch drove with cars over the lake. Twice a day I broke the ice around our wooden boat.
I was moored in a marina, living aboard was illegal. Although the whole town new me and new I was a liveaboard nobody cared.
For Holland in winter the yacht must be well equipped. I had a Refleks diesel heater and a wood burning stove.

Wintered on the Canal Du Midi also, with good heating no problem. The centre of France can be very cold. Frozen canals every winter.

I spent a winter in the Marais Poitevin - -8C, I used two shorepower points to run two fan heaters. However UK residents really don't appreciate how cold it gets in Continental Europe.
But great fun.

 

[bhangmaster]

We have just spent last winter in Auxonne, not as cold as further north. Several liveaboards over wintering and the marina is run by alovely English couple. Plenty of local supermarkets. Would certainly recommend