Visiting Bruges

[Andrew38]

I'm thinking about taking my Broom 42 to Zeebrugge & Bruges in May - does anyone have experience advice on how long to get from Zeebrugge to Bruges, licences, difficulties etc.

Anything would be appreciated

 

[Gwylan]

Go to Ghent it's more fun and not so up itself

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

It also easy to get to Bruges on the train from most places in Belgium, and pleasantly cheap to do so too!

 

[segaerta]

Hello Andrew,

This is on my backdoor so to speak, so I can answer your question though I've never been out to sea via Zeebrugge so may not know all details (but I can get them).

I'm sure you have a chartplotter or almanac with charts of the Zeebrugge port, if not I can always mail you a scanned image. Here we go ...

You enter the port of Zeebrugge throught the outer harbour walls, Proceeding south, you get to the older inner harbour walls. There may be a lot of commercial traffic (LNG terminal, ferries, fishing boats), it's a busy international port.

You'll get to Brugge via the Boudewijn canal. In order to get there, you'll have to take one of two sea locks ( both VHF 68 ).

At the far end of the port, on starboard side, you'll find the previous port for commercial fishing boats, which is now converted to a tidal marina for motor boats and sailing yachts with 250 berths and good accomodation.

Thereafter, between two bridges, there's the "Visart" lock ( VHF68 ). The Visart lock has been reopened in 2006 after 20 years non-usage to decrease waiting times on the alternative sealock, the "Vandamme" lock. In order to get to the Vandamme lock, you go between the inner harbour walls.
The Vandamme lock is 500 meters long, 57 meters wide and 18,5 meter deep. It's mainly used for large sea vessels and has double doors and bridges on both sides. It's continuously operated.

Port control will tell you which lock to take. Normally, yachts have to take the lock with commercial vessels so there may be some waiting time. I'm not sure about certain specific procedures but I can always ask if you want to. You would need to buy a permit ("waterwegenvignet") for the Flemish waterways which you can buy at the Dampoortsluis in Bruges (the one lock on the canal Gent - Oostende round Brugge). For the size of your boat and the duration of your stay it costs 50 euro. There are no other costs on all Flemish waterways (locks, bridges, ...).

Straight through the Visart lock or on starboard when leaving the Vandamme lock, you'll find the Boudewijn canal, which connects Brugge and Zeebrugge. It's 12 kms long, one straight line, with lots of commerical activities along the sides and you may encounter quite some commercial traffic as well.

There's 2 bridges at Dudzele (halfway), you can call them on VHF68 if you can't get underneath.

At the very end, there's the Boudewijn lock ( VHF 68 ) which gives access to the canal Gent - Oostende that passes round Brugge. It's operated Mo-Sat between 8-12 and 13-17, not on Sundays or Holidays. Beware from here on, no locks or bridges are operated on May 1 (Holiday).

Past the lock, take port side on the canal (starboard takes you to Oostende which may be a nice alternative to go back to the North Sea). There's a lot of bridges and one additional lock, all centrally operated via "Centrale Kruispoort" on VHF 18. They are operated in sequence, you may have to wait some time, as traffic control tends to group a couple of ships in order to minimize impact on road traffic as one after the other bridge opens and you may end up in a convoy with commercial barge as well. Plan between one to two hours to pass them all. All bridges are operated Mo-Sat 06-19.30 and on Sunday (from May 2nd) between 10-18. At certain moments of the day (between 07.50 - 08.20, 11.55 - 12.25 and 17.00 - 17.30, the bridges are not operated due to peak road traffic.

Past the fifth bridge you'll find a small harbour on starboard side (Bruges Coupure - call +32 479/24.63.87 for the harbour master or call "Centrale Kruispoort" on VHF 18 as they have to operate a small bridge to get into the marina). There's a somewhat larger marina (70 berths) three bridges further (VVW Flandria - +32(0)477 384456 harbour master Johan Annys). Both marinas are in walking distance from the city center, VVW Flandria probably has better accomodation but I think Ccoupure offers the nicer surroundings.

It may all sound tedious with these bridges, but let that not hold you back. It's a nice trip and a visit to Bruges is certainly worth it. If you want to visit Brugge with a guide, my father in law is an official guide and can help you further if you want to.

Should you have a little more time, you can get to Gent ( that's where I live ) in about 4 hours and stay there as well. Then via the canal Gent - Terneuzen and the Westerschelde get back to the North Sea.

If you feel like it, we can meet up in Brugge, I'd be happy to bring a beer (or two) along.

PM me if you want more information.

Best regards,
Alain

 

[mainshiptom]

We did Bruges in 2004 and loved every nminute, we got in through Newiport and used the canals maximunm head clearnce was just under 5 meters,

We atayed in bruges for a wekk and it was very expensive 7 euros a night for moorings !

We loved every minute and would do again

Tom

 

[jcmmarine]

Beautiful place to visit, we have been here many times on our boat from UK.

If you have the time, the best and easiest entry point is Nieupoort. where you can obtain your inland licence for 25 euro.

In Brugges go to Copuree not the main marina, It does not have all the facilities, but is much closer and more in tune with the city.

 

[aviator]

We were there last year with the MBM and a fantastic place to visit by boat. We stayed at Flavia marina who were most helpful including ferrying me to the hospital when I fell in the water trying to connect up the electrics for SWMIBO to have a cup of tea. Well it was my own fault - no tea in future ;-)

Just a word though about the EU NHS business. I received an invoice for treatment (anti tentanus) and had my EU card but still had an invoice.

Don't forget with bridge openings that many do NOT open during rush hours when road traffic take priority.

Oh and we went in and out via Ostende which worked well as the marina there had a fantastic restaurant and the dockmaster very helpful when I had to send a part home by DHL to be fixed. It was a public holiday at the time so no local engineers.

Oh and Brugges itself was excellent with the Procession of the Holy Blood and a cast of thousands.

See Link to pictures of Brugges boating

We found Flavia very close to the city, just a short walk and no problems at all.

Have fun

 

[pheran]

We've been there by boat several times, going in from both Oostende and Nieuport, although we preferred the latter despite the longer canal trip. Have moored in the marina, the yacht club and even alongside in the main canal, under the windmill. Great spot for watching the world go by - if you can get in there.

 

[apollo]

Agree with the recommendation to visit Coupure moorings, brilliant location central rather than Flandria which is a long walk, mooring was almost as good as squatting in your mooring all winter!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

We got our license at Niewpoort on the way in, was about £25 for 3 months - EA take note!!!