Ostend or Scheveningen

jimi

jimi

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Got a weekend pass for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. Thinking about either of the above from Ipswich. Having sailed to neither before which is the best one for a fleeting visit? I know Scheveningen reasonably well as I've visited Den Haag a few times in connection with work and like it there.
 
Scheveningen is nicer than Ostend IMO (we went there a couple of weeks ago by train from Gouda to Den Haag and then a tram) BUT it as a blooming long way for a weekend. I've not been there but Gravelines is supposed to be very nice if you get there on the top of the tide and are happy sinking into the very soft mud.

With this fickle weather a shorter trip might give you a chance of getting back again. Well I would say that.....
 
jimi said:
Got a weekend pass for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. Thinking about either of the above from Ipswich. Having sailed to neither before which is the best one for a fleeting visit? I know Scheveningen reasonably well as I've visited Den Haag a few times in connection with work and like it there.
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There is only one option for good food & beir`s
 
Difficult decision.
Oostend is dead until the festival starts, but as Sailorman says, good food and beer.
Scheveningen is nice, a bit like a UK seaside town in the 1950s, lots of restaurants along the front and trams to the centre of The Hague. The downside is that there aren't many visitor moorings, you would almost certainly end up rafting up, with the nearset alternates Ijmuden to the North and Stellendam to the South, or a trip up the Maas.
 
jimi said:
Got a weekend pass for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. Thinking about either of the above from Ipswich. Having sailed to neither before which is the best one for a fleeting visit? I know Scheveningen reasonably well as I've visited Den Haag a few times in connection with work and like it there.
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I would choose Oostende - decent restaurants, beers good, if you fancy a change you can get the train to Brugge a short walk up the harbour, the journey is about 25 mins and there you can sit in the main square and drink and eat again!! The journey from the Orwell is straightforward and it is the closest
Gravelines is quite nice as well and not much further, get there reasonably close to the top of the tide and it is a lot more straight forward than it appears in the pilot! If you have folding bikes it is even better as its quite a long way to the beach/town centre.
 
Oostende has the best chips in the world. if like me you are into maritime heritage,there are two old vessels open as museums,a square rigger and a side trawler,well presented. Also has Nazi bunkers,interesting fish docks,chart agents,trawler chandlers,so personally,Oostende every time,in the RNSYC,cheers Jerry
 
We'll probably opt for Ostend, we draw 6'6" so gravelines might be a challenge! Hope there will be some wind! How far out to sea do the sea breezes kick in? If wie have 20 miles either side then than might be tolerable if there is no ambient wind?
 
jerrytug said:
Oostende has the best chips in the world. if like me you are into maritime heritage,there are two old vessels open as museums,a square rigger and a side trawler,well presented. Also has Nazi bunkers,interesting fish docks,chart agents,trawler chandlers,so personally,Oostende every time,in the RNSYC,cheers Jerry
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It also has the most amazing number of seafood stalls all selling the same crab stick type of thing in a variety of 'styles and shapes' and fluorescent colours! E numbers in the EU!
 
jimi said:
We'll probably opt for Ostend, we draw 6'6" so gravelines might be a challenge! Hope there will be some wind! How far out to sea do the sea breezes kick in? If wie have 20 miles either side then than might be tolerable if there is no ambient wind?
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I agree with the Oostende vote but don't write off Gravelines for ever on account of your draft. We too are 6' 6" and have had no trouble
 
Marmalade said:
I agree with the Oostende vote but don't write off Gravelines for ever on account of your draft. We too are 6' 6" and have had no trouble
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I sat next to a Dehler 41DS drawing 2.2m, it went in up to the waterline. The ability of Gravelines mud to soak up keels is truly remarkable.
 
Would be a bit worried about mud and the saildrive inlets. Lack of wind this weekend might mean a trip up the coast to try and stay in the sea breeze zone.
 
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