Netherlands standing mast route - make sure you check

[westhinder]

Today's bad news is that the Dordrecht Railway bridge is out of action and likely to remain so until October.

@westhinder can you confirm this? nothing online but this was on the MOA forum from a Dutch member

All I have found is a notice from Rijkswaterstaat that the railwaybridge in Dordrecht was going to be out of action from 7 July to 10 July. So it should be available again tomorrow. Could it be that 10/07 was misinterpreted as 7 October?

 

[DanTribe]

All I have found is a notice from Rijkswaterstaat that the railwaybridge in Dordrecht was going to be out of action from 7 July to 10 July. So it should be available again tomorrow. Could it be that 10/07 was misinterpreted as 7 October?

I hope you're right. The news of the closure was a worry and I was just about to go and find charts for the passage through Rotterdam and Oude Maas. Perhaps I should do that route just for the experience.

 

[westhinder]

I hope you're right. The news of the closure was a worry and I was just about to go and find charts for the passage through Rotterdam and Oude Maas. Perhaps I should do that route just for the experience.

Sailing to Rotterdam via Hoek van Holland and the Nieuwe Waterweg takes you through the port of Rotterdam and it’s bustling traffic. It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience provided you listen carefully to the traffic controllers on the consecutive VHF block channels. They expect you to react immediately to their instructions.
There is an alternative route to Rotterdam from the Haringvliet via the Spui. That way you only traverse part of the port.

 

[johnalison]

Sailing to Rotterdam via Hoek van Holland and the Nieuwe Waterweg takes you through the port of Rotterdam and it’s bustling traffic. It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience provided you listen carefully to the traffic controllers on the consecutive VHF block channels. They expect you to react immediately to their instructions.
There is an alternative route to Rotterdam from the Haringvliet via the Spui. That way you only traverse part of the port.

A club mate transited Rotterdam some years ago and we met him in Flushing on his way home. As he was going through the port his P-bracket broke. He called the port authorities and a tow was arranged to a nearby boat club. The boat was put on a ramp and almost immediately a team of club members descended on the boat and welded the bracket back together. They declined payment, saying it was good practice for them, and he was on his way again.

 

[DanTribe]

More blockages. We turned back at Haarlem because of the Spaarndam bridge problem, now fixed apparently. Heading South, the nice man at Gouwsluis hefbrug told us that we couldn't get to Gouda because Coenecoopbrug was shut until 24th July.
Currently in Boskoop which we had planned to visit anyway. Not sure of an alternative route South for fixed mast and 1.8. draft.
What's going on with Dutch bridges?

 

[westhinder]

More blockages. We turned back at Haarlem because of the Spaarndam bridge problem, now fixed apparently. Heading South, the nice man at Gouwsluis hefbrug told us that we couldn't get to Gouda because Coenecoopbrug was shut until 24th July.
Currently in Boskoop which we had planned to visit anyway. Not sure of an alternative route South for fixed mast and 1.8. draft.
What's going on with Dutch bridges?

Commiserations.
Many bridges are getting older and apparently there is a lot of overdue maintenance, which is why they are getting unreliable.
I don’t have my documentation here, so I’m not sure about your draft, but it might be worth exploring whether an escape is possible via Leiden and Delft to Rotterdam.
I have never tried it, 2.1 m is pretty restrictive

 

[DanTribe]

I am considering the Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam option although I don't have good up to date charts and can't get to a chandlers. I lost count after 30 something bridges and not sure all are passable for us. I suppose that if Spaarndam is now open we could go back and escape via Ijmuiden.
They now seem to be saying that Coenecoopbrug is out of service until the 28th July.
What a palaver!

 

[westhinder]

I am considering the Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam option although I don't have good up to date charts and can't get to a chandlers. I lost count after 30 something bridges and not sure all are passable for us. I suppose that if Spaarndam is now open we could go back and escape via Ijmuiden.
They now seem to be saying that Coenecoopbrug is out of service until the 28th July.
What a palaver!

Yes, there is a NtM confirming Coenecoopbrug will be closed until 28 July.
Buitenhuizerbrug does not mention any more it is out of order, it is probably best to phone to have this confirmed and then make a dash for it.

 

[DanTribe]

Where is everybody?
in the last week we have been to Leiden, Haarlem, Braassemermeer , de Kaag, Boskoop and back to de Kaag, saw a few sloeps and motor boats but no sailing yachts.
It's a bit like one of those apocalyptic films where a bloke wakes up in hospital and he is the only person left alive.

 

[johnalison]

Where is everybody?
in the last week we have been to Leiden, Haarlem, Braassemermeer , de Kaag, Boskoop and back to de Kaag, saw a few sloeps and motor boats but no sailing yachts.
It's a bit like one of those apocalyptic films where a bloke wakes up in hospital and he is the only person left alive.

They’ve read your posts.

 

[eebygum]

Where is everybody?
in the last week we have been to Leiden, Haarlem, Braassemermeer , de Kaag, Boskoop and back to de Kaag, saw a few sloeps and motor boats but no sailing yachts.
It's a bit like one of those apocalyptic films where a bloke wakes up in hospital and he is the only person left alive.

I departed Dover early June for Copenhagen via Belgium, Holland (North Sea Canal - Amsterdam-Inland Seas, northern Standinv Mast Route) outside Frisian Islands, Kiel Canal and southern Danish Islands), Klintholm and now Dragør and I’ve only seen two other English yachts….. and never had trouble finding a berth in any of the supposedly busy places. May well it continue as we head further North next week.

 

[johnalison]

I departed Dover early June for Copenhagen via Belgium, Holland (North Sea Canal - Amsterdam-Inland Seas, northern Standinv Mast Route) outside Frisian Islands, Kiel Canal and southern Danish Islands), Klintholm and now Dragør and I’ve only seen two other English yachts….. and never had trouble finding a berth in any of the supposedly busy places. May well it continue as we head further North next week.

It will change when their schools break up, as you will soon find out.
Seeing other British yachts was always the exception when we went that way. One advantage of cruising without company is that it forces you to approach strangers, and although we have had some lovely meetings with Brits, there are times when it is good to get away.

 

[eebygum]

It will change when their schools break up, as you will soon find out.
Seeing other British yachts was always the exception when we went that way. One advantage of cruising without company is that it forces you to approach strangers, and although we have had some lovely meetings with Brits, there are times when it is good to get away.

When we first arrived in Denmark at Marstal and our first box mooring (in a good blow) two Danes kindly took our bow lines. Before handing them back to me, they asked mischievously “First are you for or against Brexit”…, my answer kindly got the lines returned and a good laugh !

 

[DanTribe]

When we first arrived in Denmark at Marstal and our first box mooring (in a good blow) two Danes kindly took our bow lines. Before handing them back to me, they asked mischievously “First are you for or against Brexit”…, my answer kindly got the lines returned and a good laugh !

Getting out passports stamped on Nieuwpoort, the policeman was a bit brusque and frosty. When I said I was sorry about brexit, it wasn't my idea, he became much friendlier.

 

[MK101]

I am considering the Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam option although I don't have good up to date charts and can't get to a chandlers. I lost count after 30 something bridges and not sure all are passable for us. I suppose that if Spaarndam is now open we could go back and escape via Ijmuiden.
They now seem to be saying that Coenecoopbrug is out of service until the 28th July.
What a palaver!

Good luck with the bridges. There’s lots of people in NL hoping the SMR will be back to full effect soon. We used to use it to get to our winter berth. Happy that’s not the case now.

As to where everyone is… Nieuwpoort currently! We came down the coast from Scheveningen at the weekend, and have been… waiting.

 

[Judithsails]

I’ll certainly go through all of the links above. Thanks guys.
Is there any group consensus on whether either of the south routes from Amsterdam to Vlissingen are open now (end Aug onwards)?
The weather forecast for the first weeks in September mean it would be useful to make progress southwards in the canals.

 

[RAFFY]

I’ll certainly go through all of the links above. Thanks guys.
Is there any group consensus on whether either of the south routes from Amsterdam to Vlissingen are open now (end Aug onwards)?
The weather forecast for the first weeks in September mean it would be useful to make progress southwards in the canals.

Not sure about north of Dordrecht, but Verkeersbrug was operational on 23/08 as per schedule.

 

[DanTribe]

We had problems at Spaarndam, Gouda and Volkerak sluis in late July, and early August but these seem to be sorted now. Check Algerasluis at Krimpen aan de Ijsel. The man told us we needed to give 4 hours notice but luckily a yacht was coming the other way. Alblasserdam bridge took ages to open. Wouldn't be surprised if that was next to break down.

 

[MK101]

It's possible - although there are still some issues to be aware of. There's definitively no night convoy route through Amsterdam, so you have to go down the North Sea Canal and through Haarlem - which is now accessible again. But note that there is a closure at Kaagbrug (the A44 and associated rail bridge near Sassenheim) on the weekend of 5/6/7 September, with possible fall back weekends later in the month. There is also a closure at Gouda 2nd week of September. 6th to 15th it seems. As @DanTribe says there are a number of issues elsewhere, but these look to be relatively short term. For example, RWS say the 4 hour notice period for the Algerasluis finishes on 31st August (always possible they extend it!). There are also some wind force related restrictions: if it's above Bft 5 then it's worth checking some places. A good summary is here: Nautin: Stremmingen SMR - you can follow links from there to get more details. Enjoy it!

 

[Judithsails]

Thank you all for your inputs. Our latest searches have found that Gouda will have a closure all week in the week we want so no way there.
BUT the Windy longer range has changed for the better the frontal system is staying further north. It looks like they are able to predict “post ex-hurricane Erin” more accurately now. The weather forecast could change significantly again of course but the canal closures won’t change for the better.