Vlissingen Formalities

[CJ1]

For the first time I plan to sail to Vlissingen from Ramsgate in a couple of weeks.

I would be grateful if someone could point me to the location of information about immigration/ entry procedures/ Customs etc.

I have sailed to France a few times and I hope the Dutch have a similar system enabling the formalities to be dealt with using an online form, rather than requiring a visit to a customs office.

Any advice could be greatly appreciated.

 

[st599]

The Dutch don't have a similar system - only the French are bending the rules at the moment for local visits.

Also worth noting that, unlike the UK, the Netherlands (and Belgium) have updated to the new digital VHF channels and moved recreational harbours, locks etc. to channel 31 with ATIS. This is a problem as Ch 31 is RNLI only in the UK, so you'll need a variation notice from Ofcom to get that programmed in.

Recreational vessels

Netherlands | boating abroad | RYA

 

[Plum]

The Dutch don't have a similar system - only the French are bending the rules at the moment for local visits.

Also worth noting that, unlike the UK, the Netherlands (and Belgium) have updated to the new digital VHF channels and moved recreational harbours, locks etc. to channel 31 with ATIS. This is a problem as Ch 31 is RNLI only in the UK, so you'll need a variation notice from Ofcom to get that programmed in.

Recreational vessels

Netherlands | boating abroad | RYA

Sorry to be pedantic but the channel 31 used in the Netherlands is a duplex channel and the channel 31 used by the RNLI (usually shown as 31A) is a simplex channel so they are not the same.

 

[bluerm166]

I haven't been in at Vlissingen for a year or two but it would be surprising to me if all the locks have lost their specific VHF channels overnight in favour of channel 31 on ATIS..For instance W.Varne have not removed the longstanding VHF channels from the relevant Blue Wave online guide 2025 edition ( the system that guides you without delay in a small flotilla flow right through Walcheren canal from Vlissingen to Middelburg) .
Blauwe golf Kanaal door Walcheren + Dokbrug en Zeelandbrug | Watersportvereniging Arne
The channel numbers are still shown on my new OSENC 2025 digital charts.
It would be a major task to eliminate all such specific channels from guides and charts.Would it be helpful to use only one channel !! Quite a commotion if our sets became unintelligible to bridge and lock operators.So far they have heard us and made no complaint.
I have only felt the lack of ch31 at Breskens marina ( use the telephone) and have not heard of anyone taken to task for deploying other than an ATIS system.

 

[CJ1]

The Dutch don't have a similar system - only the French are bending the rules at the moment for local visits.

Also worth noting that, unlike the UK, the Netherlands (and Belgium) have updated to the new digital VHF channels and moved recreational harbours, locks etc. to channel 31 with ATIS. This is a problem as Ch 31 is RNLI only in the UK, so you'll need a variation notice from Ofcom to get that programmed in.

Recreational vessels

Netherlands | boating abroad | RYA

Thanks.
That’s a bit of a bore having to report to customs, as I’m then sailing to Belgium and France so I guess I will have to do the same thing on leaving.

Regarding the VHF- my radio has channel 31 disabled, but once I am in Dutch waters I can enable it temporarily.

 

[Frayed Knot]

Reporting requirements for commercial and recreational vessels

Try this for information, I think I found everything I needed here last year but I believe a few things may have changed.
On arrival at Vlissingen the HM will contact customs/immigration for you and they will come to your boat.
Everyone seems very friendly and helpful and I’m confident that as long as you have done all things possible to comply with regs they will forgive any minor errors.
When we “checked out” last year, had a problem, turned back and had to get stamped back in a few hours later & then left again the following day it only caused amusement - they offered us a season ticket.
As for vhf, I think I’ve only had cause to use it there on a couple of occasions for bridge openings when out of season and very few boats were on the move.
I think the norm is to enter a harbour and either find a berth (red or green plates) or report to HM in person after tying up at a waiting jetty.
Enjoy the trip.

 

[PetiteFleur]

We returned via Vlissengen last year after entering at Den Helder. There is a customs tel number that you can call and they will turn up and stamp you in/out. Sorry, number is on the boat.

 

[westhinder]

Border control is carried out by the Marechaussee, and normally the harbourmaster will contact them and they will come to the boat.
This is the Marechaussee website: Recreational vessels
As long as you stay in the Schengen zone, you do not need to clear in or out when you move to another country. When you leave Schengen, you clear out in your last port.

 

[CJ1]

Thanks for all your replies.
I would like eventually to depart the Schengen zone from Gravellines, which is not an official port of entry. I am guessing despite the new French rules permitting UK leisure craft to enter/depart from marinas like Gravellines, if I have entered the Schengen zone via an official port of entry like Vlissingen I will have to depart from either Dunkirk or Calais. Has anyone done this ?

 

[st599]

Thanks for all your replies.
I would like eventually to depart the Schengen zone from Gravellines, which is not an official port of entry. I am guessing despite the new French rules permitting UK leisure craft to enter/depart from marinas like Gravellines, if I have entered the Schengen zone via an official port of entry like Vlissingen I will have to depart from either Dunkirk or Calais. Has anyone done this ?

You do yes. You need a passport stamp to prove you haven't overstayed.

You can't even use the French scheme to transit France, it allows marinas in the same region to clock you in and out. Shame as the full biometric scans start this autumn which will clobber all that.

 

[LittleSister]

Thanks for all your replies.
I would like eventually to depart the Schengen zone from Gravellines, which is not an official port of entry. I am guessing despite the new French rules permitting UK leisure craft to enter/depart from marinas like Gravellines, if I have entered the Schengen zone via an official port of entry like Vlissingen I will have to depart from either Dunkirk or Calais. Has anyone done this ?

I think you could potentially travel by public transport or pushbike (I think the marina hire them) from Gravelines to the relevant office at Calais (or Dunkirk) to check out.

 

[MikeBz]

There is a thread somewhere about Dunkirk which says that you have to go to the ferry port to check out which is 10 miles from the marina? … according to Google Maps it’s 13 miles by road.

 

[LittleSister]

There is a thread somewhere about Dunkirk which says that you have to go to the ferry port to check out which is 10 miles from the marina? … according to Google Maps it’s 13 miles by road.

Assuming the relevant office is the 'Police aux Frontieres' off the Rue de Petit Dena (near the DFDS Ferry terminal), from the Marina at Gravelines it's -
6 miles and 32 minutes by bicycle, or
7 miles (slightly different route) and 12 minutes by car,
according to Google Maps.

 

[CliveG]

Just back from a few weeks in Holland.
I all ways go the Vlaamse Yachthaven Nieuwpoort - the customs office is in the pyramid building right by the Marina.
Make sure you fill in the belgium form at Pleasure Craft Declaration before leaving UK.
Alternatively the Harbor Master at V.V.W. "Schelde" will get the customs to come to you there
That is just round the right hand bend of canal from Vlissingen lock before the 1st bridge

 

[Daydream believer]

If going from Ramsgate to Flushing, why not stop at Ostend & sort the schengan there? It is so simple. Plus you can then time the trip to suit the tides
Ie Ramsgate to Ostend takes 9 hours so use 6 hours of tide. Then Ostend to Flushing (which can involve a strong tide at the end) takes 4 .5 hours with a tide under you. That way you avoid a lot of adverse tide. You can go straight through the lock & if there are a few boats you may be lucky & catch an early convoy up to Middleburgh, or Veere, without waiting too long.

 

[Marmalade]

agree with DB - Ostend is easy peasy- office at the railway station near mercator marina. Last time we left from Breskens and they sent maritime police from Vlissingen round to stanp us out. they came by road which is a long old trip

 

[1stFelixstoweSeaScouts]

You should email Dutch immigration with a copy of your crew list before arriving in Vlissingen from outside the Schengen area. in the email let them know your time of arrival and give a phone number. You should not just turn up and let a harbour master call them.
Ensure your yellow Q flag is raised.
They will dispatch officers to Vlissingen to meet you in one of two daily slots. It is a 40min drive for them.
The current visiting times are (as of June/July 2025) 9am-11am and 4pm-6pm each day upon demand.
If arriving after 6pm you'll have to wait until the next morning. If departing before 9am you'll need them to stamp you out the afternoon before.

PS the officers don't seem very familiar with visiting yachts.
On the way in they first nearly stamped my passport with an airport stamp, and then they got the date 1 month late. On the way back, the stamp was for Terneuzen because they couldn't find the Vlissingen one.