Trip to Holland(partly inland)- do I need a holding tank?

[Modulation]

We're planning a trip later this year and I've been researching this. The RYA says that the regs there changed a couple of years back and holding tanks became a requierement for certain defined waterways. Basically, it includes the Delta area and inland waters. I can fully understand the argument for the inland waters but the tidal Delta...............?
Anyway what have others done? I don't want to go to the expense and trouble of fitting something that we'll use only once or twice ever. Is it an acceptable ie legal approach to simply not use the heads when in places like the Grevelingemeer - which, to be frank we wouldn't anyway as there are always adequate shore facilities.
Views/experiences welcome

 

[sailorman]

We're planning a trip later this year and I've been researching this. The RYA says that the regs there changed a couple of years back and holding tanks became a requierement for certain defined waterways. Basically, it includes the Delta area and inland waters. I can fully understand the argument for the inland waters but the tidal Delta...............?
Anyway what have others done? I don't want to go to the expense and trouble of fitting something that we'll use only once or twice ever. Is it an acceptable ie legal approach to simply not use the heads when in places like the Grevelingemeer - which, to be frank we wouldn't anyway as there are always adequate shore facilities.
Views/experiences welcome

if you do fit a holding tank i am told there is no pump-out stns to be found.
contact Wunja he lives there

 

[fixh1]

There is only one rule:
It is not allowed to pump your (black) waste water overboard.
There is no rule to install a holding tank.
The practice is: as long as no one catches you (the dutch say: op heterdaad, get the person red-handed), you don't have a problem.

In marinas the facilities are very good, so don't use your toilet over there, in the Delta don't use it on places where people swim....

Hans Fix (The Netherlands)

 

[Stork_III]

if you do fit a holding tank i am told there is no pump-out stns to be found.
contact Wunja he lives there

Most marinas in Zealand now have pump out facilities. If you don't have a HT don't use the toilet, obviously, ie where you can be found out.

 

[ditchcrawler]

You do not need a holding tank.I took a porta potti 2 years ago.Some of the Dutch I spoke to carry a type of glorified nappy which has gel in it and you put it over your toilet and then fold it up..Google flex toilet.The chandlers in Holland sell them.

 

[johnalison]

OP clearly wants to do the right thing, which is to be commended. We have a holding tank but seldom use it in Holland because one is always within reach of shore facilities, even on the islands in the meers, which I have always encouraged my family to use. I'm not sure what the rule about peeing is, whether from the deck, shore or while swimming.

 

[Emjaytoo]

We have been sailing in the Delta for six years now and we have yet to find a marina that does NOT have a pump out facility. Unfortunately they are often tucked in an inaccessible corner or put on the fuel pontoon where the staff would rather you bought fuel than pumped your tank out.

"if you can get away with it" is all very well, but please don't do it in the Veerse Meer as I like to swim in the Veerse Meer!

 

[sailorman]

We have been sailing in the Delta for six years now and we have yet to find a marina that does NOT have a pump out facility. Unfortunately they are often tucked in an inaccessible corner or put on the fuel pontoon where the staff would rather you bought fuel than pumped your tank out.

"if you can get away with it" is all very well, but please don't do it in the Veerse Meer as I like to swim in the Veerse Meer!

Psssssssst
guess wot the fish do in it

 

[LittleShip]

Psssssssst
guess wot the fish do in it

Swim

Tom

 

[sailorman]

Swim

Tom

and fornicate

 

[Wunja]

PM sent, but nothing to add to the comments above.

and fornicate

So that's what I've been cleaning out of the goldfish tank!

 

[Bobobolinsky]

and fornicate

Bin there done that

 

[johnalison]

and fornicate

That can't be true, unless there is a form of marriage for fish so that extra-pisci-marital copulation could be so described.

 

[Modulation]

Helpful replies all - even the piscatorial ones.
So it's no holding tank (and no worry about the smell), use of the plentiful shore facilities and a supply of flex toilets for emergencies.
thanks all - you saved me making a bad decision

 

[jtwebb]

We have been a few times up to 2 years ago and had a holding tank for some years. We can then use the loo with a clear conscience. I would point out there are not often facilities on the overnight berths in Grevelingen Meere, sometimes a thunder box at Stampers Platz. The Veerse Meere has none on the islands etc. The Marinas all have them but there is a tendency to allow boats to moor in front, Veere being very bad for this. If you go North through the canals you are likely to be caught short. The pump outs are generally DIY and were 0.50 for black water and 2 for oily bilge water. I think it is a perfectly reasonable requirement, people swim a lot in what are static waters and, in some cases, very confined waters with little water flow.