Veerse Meer

benw

benw

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Planning a family return to Middelburg and on to the Veerse Meer possibly Oesterschelde and out via The Roomput Sluis.
Have all pilots on board so just wondering if anyone can advise anchoring in the Veerse Meer. I am particularly looking at the western end near the adjoining beach.
I am aware of the landing stages that can be found too, but there seems to be a definite absence in this particular area.
Please note we are aware of how busy this area can be but as we have no flexibility re school Hols I have 3 wks planned aboard.
 
You'll love it, it's brilliant. We have been twice, both times in the school hols and it wasn't crowded, if you have children on board they will also love the ready made friends. Last year we spent 6 nights on one pontoon with our eldest adopted into the crowd of snorkelling, sailing, fishing childrens activities. Then we spent a peaceful 5 nights on our own pontoon with just one boat visiting for a day - absolute heaven.

There's lots of anchoring spots and lots of boats anchor in the western part but the distances are so short you could use a pontoon then nip up the western end to visit the beach.

The Dutch do this sort of thing so well - clean, safe and friendly and in 2 weeks we never heard any music from a boat. Don't go bearfoot on the islands, you know how they've all got dogs and how they don't scoop :eek:

There's nowhere to buy provisions on the southern shore so we used the Kamperland Marina and the free bikes to the Spa type supermarket. Back again this year and we might try some anchoring if the kids will let me :D
 
Thanks for this. We are now beginning to get excited as we have 3 wks of term left. All my info is on the boat so trying to pull from memory what people have said. Pleased ro hear your experiences of not being over crowded.
Ben
 
There are lots of pontoons, some family oriented, some quieter. We used our tender to go over to Veer as it saved mooring fees, could have done the same and taken it almost to the centre of Kamperland. The Gravelingermeer (?spelling) is like a bigger Versemeer with some decent sailing stretches but to be honest we treat the boat like a floating caravan in the VM and get our sailing fixes on the passages.
 
benw said:
Also,wondering whether to leave tender at home. Will it be required with pontoons a plenty?could be useful but would be happy to save the weight of tender and outboard.
Click to expand...

Dont leave the dingy, otherwise, how do you get ashore?

Have anchoured at the top end on the right hand side. nice short walk through the dunes to the N Sea.

however busy the marinas, and island moorings, there is always space for anchoring

Have a great time.
 
At the top left hand corner - along from Veere town and the marina - we found a T-shaped pontoon about 100 metres offshore and moored overnight with about 5 other boats. All excellent if a bit shallow on the land side for us (1.8m draft) :o
There are others further towards the sea dyke.
Didn't venture ashore as we were happy to sit there in the sun, reading and supping a cool beer until the sun went down...... :D
Thank goodness we're off on the boat on Saturday!
 
benw said:
Planning a family return to Middelburg and on to the Veerse Meer possibly Oesterschelde and out via The Roomput Sluis.
Have all pilots on board so just wondering if anyone can advise anchoring in the Veerse Meer. I am particularly looking at the western end near the adjoining beach.
I am aware of the landing stages that can be found too, but there seems to be a definite absence in this particular area.
Please note we are aware of how busy this area can be but as we have no flexibility re school Hols I have 3 wks planned aboard.
Click to expand...

Know it well. The stages on the southern shore near the dam are of variable quality and approach depth. If you draw more than 1.5m exercise caution. There is a more substantial stage closer to the dam but it is often hogged by brown armarda and other heavies.

The islands offer lots of good staging and fun spaces for the kids, nice quiet (all free) and good for BBQ's etc. Portaloos and waste bins abound (the Dutch really know how to do these things!) So, there's little call for anchoring under these circumstances but no reason not to do so.

There's a friendly reception at any of the marinas; Kamperland lies 2km from its village with pleasant shops and eating opportunitites and is cheaper than Delta: however Delta has the village close to hand and a good marina restaurant and a supermarket in the adjoining camp. Wohlfahrtsdijk is useful but suffers from the 4 km walk to its village. The two marinas (in one bay) W of Veere have rather fewer holiday facilities, but you could walk to the dam from there.

Veere has no food type shops but is worth a visit: nip in to the clubhouse and take a meal - Juliette and her sister are institutions and the food is good.

Buses run from Veere to Middleburg should you suffer a rainy day. For a nice excusion try Domburg - bus service from Middleburg - on the coast and very attractive. I'd give Vlissingen a miss in favour of Goes for shopping and regional atmosphere, along with Middleburg of course.

The boat trip round to Goes is quite a jolly too - we prefer the town marina (straight ahead after the Ringbrug) but there's a jolly garden marina immediately on your left past the lifting bridge that could intrigue the kids.

In the Osterschelde, it's either pretty (Zierikzee) and rafted to the hilt, or quieter
(Colijnsplaat) and less mooring hassle.

Grevelingen Meer has island staging too: Herkingen marina, and Bruinisse (outer) offer good facilites and hinterland for the kids. Brouershaven is a nice village with good facilities.

As ever, the secret with marinas is to get in before 1500hrs in season or risk rafting and all that pain.

Enough - go enjoy!

PWG
 
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All respondents great stuff and good info. Can't wait now!
Looking forward to a pleasant crossing since last visit to Ostend around bank hol with very limited viz and extreme winds. Great fun ( except fog of course) but with the family on board shall be looking for a nice f4-5 and Blankeberg by G+T o'clock.
Hoping 3 wks will give time to explore, chill and avoid any inclement weather.
Dinghy or not this is the question - verdicts out if shore pontoons and marinas a plenty?
Happy planning everyone.



PeterGibbs said:
Know it well. The stages on the southern shore near the dam are of variable quality and approach depth. If you draw more than 1.5m exercise caution. There is a more substantial stage closer to the dam but it is often hogged by brown armarda and other heavies.

The islands offer lots of good staging and fun spaces for the kids, nice quiet (all free) and good for BBQ's etc. Portaloos and waste bins abound (the Dutch really know how to do these things!) So, there's little call for anchoring under these circumstances but no reason not to do so.

There's a friendly reception at any of the marinas; Kamperland lies 2km from its village with pleasant shops and eating opportunitites and is cheaper than Delta: however Delta has the village close to hand and a good marina restaurant and a supermarket in the adjoining camp. Wohlfahrtsdijk is useful but suffers from the 4 km walk to its village. The two marinas (in one bay) W of Veere have rather fewer holiday facilities, but you could walk to the dam from there.

Veere has no food type shops but is worth a visit: nip in to the clubhouse and take a meal - Juliette and her sister are institutions and the food is good.

Buses run from Veere to Middleburg should you suffer a rainy day. For a nice excusion try Domburg - bus service from Middleburg - on the coast and very attractive. I'd give Vlissingen a miss in favour of Goes for shopping and regional atmosphere, along with Middleburg of course.

The boat trip round to Goes is quite a jolly too - we prefer the town marina (straight ahead after the Ringbrug) but there's a jolly garden marina immediately on your left past the lifting bridge that could intrigue the kids.

The secret with marinas is to get in before 1500hrs in season or risk rafting and all that pain.

Enough - go enjoy!

PWG
Click to expand...
 
benw said:
Also,wondering whether to leave tender at home. Will it be required with pontoons a plenty?could be useful but would be happy to save the weight of tender and outboard.
Click to expand...

I would take the dinghy, it gives you flexibility if the pontoons are full you are stuffed for getting ashore.
Try mooring in the town at Veere closer to the action, I have done it twice right outside the YC, met a eccentric English guy last time in a Dutch gentlemans motor yacht of about 50' that had been previously owed by a 'Dutch movie star' and we rafted up to him, what a p..s head had a great couple of days, my favorite place on the Veersemere is further down, the little Islands on the corner, you will need a dinghy to get to those.
 
I hope that things do improve weather wise as we we are off from Brightlingsea to Holland on Sunday evening, and I have promised the crew untold sunshine and lots of red cheese!

Not sure if we are heading towards Roompot or Flushing as first port of call.
 
It's been pretty mixed weather, this is our 4th week over here. Had little of the truly hot stuff, but it is looking as though this bad patch should blow through by the weekend. Probly bail out of here tomorrow and go back to the islands.
Aiming to get back home by end of next week.
 
Seems my post is taking a turn towards local produce and delicacies (which I applaud incidentally), any other offerings?
Our last visit include obligatory moules frites on way from Belgium, washed down with copious beer, herring samphire and onions in Middelberg with waffle to finish.

Cheeses, breads, meats....... I am really hoping for some great tip offs!
 
benw said:
Seems my post is taking a turn towards local produce and delicacies (which I applaud incidentally), any other offerings?
Our last visit include obligatory moules frites on way from Belgium, washed down with copious beer, herring samphire and onions in Middelberg with waffle to finish.

Cheeses, breads, meats....... I am really hoping for some great tip offs!
Click to expand...

The new herrings which are available everywhere at this time of year, which are lightly cured in salt (they are raw) and they expertly fillet them in front of you and they are either eaten by holding the tail and lowering into the mouth eating as you go, gannet like or in a little bridge roll with raw onion, a delicious and inexpensive lunch with a few beers - but not for everyone.
 
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