Holland

[miket]

Hoping to go to Holland next year as part of a Thames club cruise in company. Likely to be around 6 boats and having to go in early August because of school holidays for some participants. I know it will be busy. No option.

We have been to Holland 4 times, each time in the South and have visited the well known harbours (Middleberg, Veere, Goes, Zierekzee, Wilhemstad, etc).
Time alone (2 weeks Kingston to Kingston) will limit us to the same area again but it would be nice to visit one or two alternative harbours in this area.

Anyone any suggestions? Pretty towns, nice harbour, generally pleasant place to stop.
No futher north than Wilhemstad.

Pheran need not answer! He is due to be grilled in a couple of weeks time!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Beagle]

Vlissingen (Flushing) is nice, but go to the club harbour, not the one in the city centre. At the trainstation nearby, there's a bike rental facility. Try a tandem, good fun and it's a 10mins ride to the centre. Use channal from Veere (pass Middelburg). Also opposite of Veere is Kamperland. Nice marina with foot ferry to Veere. Kortgene on Veersemeer isn't too bad either. G

oes is perhaps (with Zierikzee) the most interesting place on the Oosterschelde. Not to bad either are Wemeldinge and Yrseke. Wemeldinge is a modern marina and actually by bus pretty nearby to Yrseke.

Willemstad is the best there is on the Hollanschdiep and Hellevoetsluis (Haringvliet with lock to Northsea at Stellendam) is pretty interesting as well.

Between Oosterschelde and Haringvlietmeer (meer=lake) there is Grevelingenmeer, probably the most beautiful (saltwater) lake in Holland. Interesting places: Brouwershaven and Scharendijke.

In case of young kid: Roompot (Oosterschelde) and Port Zeelande (Grevelingen) are interesting due to attached camping/bungalow parks with tropical swimming pool.

<hr width=100% size=1>Quite boaty, ain't it?

 

[rlw]

In additions to Beagle's extensive reply The following place are interesting around Willemstad:

Hellevoetsluis
Gorichem (about 1.30 hrs from Willemstad but very nice) if you go moor in the old town
Middelharnis
Heusden (into the middle of the town underneath an antique swing bridge)
In addition close to Willemstad is the Bieshbosch. This is a nature reserve that resembles the norfolk broads. Best place in holland for boating with kids. We keep our boat there.

If you spot a turquoise sunseeker give us a wave!

Rob

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Beagle]

Ahhh right, the Bieshbosch! forgot all about that, but it's true.. it's wonderful.

Shows you the kind of boat I have. Can't go there due to the low (8-10 meters) bridges and shallow/narrow waters.....

<hr width=100% size=1>Quite boaty, ain't it?

 

[mainshiptom]

Mike

What we did last year although it was not planed was to cross over to niewport and get into canal system into bruges and come out again just south of flushing !

the famly loved Brugges and we ended up with a week in brugge!

Tom

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[rudolph_hart]

A nice quiet spot is Numansdorp, just opposite Willemstadt (very pretty 'sas' leading up to it, modern but nice town).

FWIW: Another (just possible in the timescale) destination is Brielle. This has to be one of the best-kept secrets in Holland.

Moated & fortified town (like Willemstadt only much bigger). Very old & historic (Holland as a country started here. William of Orange + Mary Stuart set out from Brielle).

Best scenic route: from Haringvliet head NE up the Spui (rhymes with cow) river (no locks or bridges), handbrake turn to port into Oude Maas, turn left immediately after lifting railway bridge into small lock leading to Briellsemeer (long & narrow, but VERY pretty - Grebes are pretty tame).

Took us a day in our Dehler 34 sailboat. Stayed in privately-owned marina on northe bank just before Motorway Bridge (our mast was too high to clear). Motorcruisers can go right into Brielle town centre. Town is about size of Middelburg, but is only a spit from Rotterdam.

Good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Beagle]

No no no no!!!! Nobody mentions Brielle. It isn't a well kept secret for nothing! Leave me in peace, I live there......

<hr width=100% size=1>I came, I saw, she conquered (the original Latin seems to have been garbled).

 

[nedmin]

If you are in the area,try to visit the R.Vecht. This runs parallel more or less to the Rijn canal.It starts at Muiden and goes to Utrecht.Before the Rijn canal was built the Vecht was the route to Amsterdam and consequently the Dutch merchants built their houses on it.I would come off it just before you reach Utrecht.It is a delightful quiet waterway.The Rijn canal is hell!! very busy .

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[miket]

Many thanks to all.

Some very useful information. Thank you all very much.

I promise to keep quiet about Brielle!!

Now better place everything on the Dutch Hydrographic Charts.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[sailorman]

Browershaven, Steenburgen, Middelharnis, Ciljinsplat, Yeserke,Tholen,Wemeldinge

<hr width=100% size=1>