Westerscheld anchorage

[DanTribe]

I recently stumbled on an old post which I cannot now find, where somebody suggested an overnight anchorage on the Scheld between Breskens and Antwerp. Possibly around Walsoorden.
It's hard to imagine that this is viable, but would love to give it a go if it is, I think they suggested it was remote and secluded, but is it safe?
I have never ventured East of Breskens, it usually looks industrial and uninviting, perhaps time to explore.

 

[Alicatt]

it is on the tidal Scheldt at Walsoorden in The Netherlands, not got much info to hand but should have some in the Wateralmanak which is on the boat at the moment, for Dutch charts it is on the overlap on sheets 13 West-Brabant and 14 Zeeuwse Delta.

Email of the havenmeister at Walsoorden is geveraert @ zeelandnet. nl (remove spaces) there are 5 spaces there for passing boats, there may be a 24hr restriction on staying, and no shore power.
That's about all the info I have at the moment.

Going further up the Scheldt to Antwerpen you run into traffic control where an AIS is compulsory, but there are routes through where you can avoid it. There are a lot of works going on in the canals in Antwerp, the Waterweg is operating a convoy system through certain sections.

 

[Frayed Knot]

Possibly here? Screenshot from Navionics

 

[Simi]

I would not venture to far off the shipping lane a Freind and I got aground in the area marked

 

[Frayed Knot]

I would not venture to far off the shipping lane a Freind and I got aground in the area marked

Well, it is a restricted area “Closed to all shipping” and marked with “frequently varying depth” warnings

 

[Charlie Boy]

Going further up the Scheldt to Antwerpen you run into traffic control where an AIS is compulsory, but there are routes through where you can avoid it. There are a lot of works going on in the canals in Antwerp, the Waterweg is operating a convoy system through certain sections.

Is that AIS receive? Or transmit too? Last time we went up to Antwerp was some years ago (10?) and I recall no such edict.
Ever hopeful that I might do it again, I liked Antwerp very much although anyone using the Jachthaven in Summer should take mossie nets
EDIT, just checked on Google photos, it was 2012

 

[Simi]

Well frayed knot it is now but in mid 2023 it was not or we would not have gone down there

 

[Alicatt]

Is that AIS receive? Or transmit too? Last time we went up to Antwerp was some years ago (10?) and I recall no such edict.
Ever hopeful that I might do it again, I liked Antwerp very much although anyone using the Jachthaven in Summer should take mossie nets
EDIT, just checked on Google photos, it was 1012

It is only in certain sections it is compulsory to have Tx/Rx AIS, there are routes avoiding those sections though. Up to date info can be found here: VisuRIS - Portal
We have a friend that over winters in Antwerp with his boat
This is them leaving and heading off to Antwerp with his mast etc. down to get under the low bridge we had just passed


Us heading off in the other direction to Bocholt

 

[johnalison]

With so much heavy traffic going up the Scheldt I find it hard to believe that an anchorage would be comfortable. Although there is industry in the river, I found that it added interest on the one time we went beyond Handsweert. Antwerp is a fine city and it makes for a worthwhile excursion.

 

[bluerm166]

If you really want to do it ..
'Lady Lisalot' has been along here recently and will have considered spots to anchor.
He may respond to a comment or contact .

 

[Alicatt]

If you really want to do it ..
'Lady Lisalot' has been along here recently and will have considered spots to anchor.
He may respond to a comment or contact .

"Lady Lisalot" looks a lot like my friend's "La Folie" a 50ft Trawler style, very nice boats indeed, my friend has been way up to Norway on La Folie and toured a good bit of Europe.

 

[ianc1200]

We bought our Cornish Crabber from Tradewind Yachts at Walsdoorden in 2013 and remember there was a small protected harbour - very rundown but usable.

 

[DanTribe]

I reckon the area Simi highlighted was what I had seen, not usable now, pity.
Ianc1200 says Walsorden was rundown but I believe it has been bought by the local council and may be improved in future.
I can't find a Henk Jan video of the stretch up to Antwerpen. Would be interested in that.
I normally spell the river Scheldt but took my spelling from a Michelin road map, not totally illiterate.

 

[thalassa]

Well, it is a restricted area “Closed to all shipping” and marked with “frequently varying depth” warnings

This is in my backyard (Paal, south of the area). The channel is indeed prohibited at the moment to commercial shipping, but 'recreatievaart' is allowed to use the channel. I've last moored there in early September, and we were there with four other boats scattered by the sides of the channel. However, the tidal height variation there is the highest in The Netherlands, and has to be taken into account. The reason for this is a sharp and relatively narrow bend in the river at Bath, further up the Schelde. Holding in the channel is good and sandy, but not on the North side 'Geul Zimmerman'. That dries more or less, and is a mixture of very soft mud and sand.
Walsoorden: the harbour is in a messy process of being sold and there is no harbour master as such. The few places are managed most of the time by a volunteer from the shipyard 'Scheepswerf de Klerk'.
We also sometimes anchor in the eastern arm of the bypass at Perkpolder, west of yellow buoy MP6. Noisy in summer with jetskis from the 'beach'. Other possible anchor sites: the channel near the sandbank 'Brouwersplaat' near Hoedekenskerke; further down the river, the area just south of plaat van Baarland. All anchor places on the Schelde are noisy from barges and shipping at 400m+.
This is the North side of the Valkenisse channel:

 

[westhinder]

Probably the best anchorage in the Schelde is to be found in the ‘Vaarwater langs Hoofdplaat’ immediately to the east of Breskens. It is completely sheltered from the big ships by the ‘Hooge Platen’ sandbank and nature reserve. You will have the seal colony as closest neighbours and the odd barge that anchors there as well.
I wouldn’t anchor in the ‘Schaar van Walsoorden’ without local knowledge.

 

[Gargleblaster]

I've always found anchoring in tidal waters in the Nederlands a bit problematic. I go back and forth to the Baltic almost every year single handed. going past the Frieslands I find it is a pain to spend a couple of hours getting into one of their harbours to have a sleep, I once anchored in the channel at Schiermonnikoog alongside a green buoy just out of the channel. turned on my anchor light turned off the radio and turned in. Some hours later I was awoken by a rescue boat sent by the lighthouse keeper to see what I was doing. During the day a year or so later I anchored off Terschelling in no wind after a night passage from Helgoland. The Douanes boarded me to find out what I was doing even though I had an anchor ball displayed.

I have spent several days at anchor inside the lock at Lauwersoog with a large number of other boats waiting for a gale to cease. No one disturbed me.

 

[westhinder]

I've always found anchoring in tidal waters in the Nederlands a bit problematic. I go back and forth to the Baltic almost every year single handed. going past the Frieslands I find it is a pain to spend a couple of hours getting into one of their harbours to have a sleep, I once anchored in the channel at Schiermonnikoog alongside a green buoy just out of the channel. turned on my anchor light turned off the radio and turned in. Some hours later I was awoken by a rescue boat sent by the lighthouse keeper to see what I was doing. During the day a year or so later I anchored off Terschelling in no wind after a night passage from Helgoland. The Douanes boarded me to find out what I was doing even though I had an anchor ball displayed.

I have spent several days at anchor inside the lock at Lauwersoog with a large number of other boats waiting for a gale to cease. No one disturbed me.

You could have avoided being woken by the lifeboat simply by notifying Brandaris VTS, who monitor all the traffic in the Wadden Sea. If they had been satisfied you were not in distress, they might even have advised on a more convenient spot to anchor.
I’m not so sure about Customs though.

 

[sailorman]

I recently stumbled on an old post which I cannot now find, where somebody suggested an overnight anchorage on the Scheld between Breskens and Antwerp. Possibly around Walsoorden.
It's hard to imagine that this is viable, but would love to give it a go if it is, I think they suggested it was remote and secluded, but is it safe?
I have never ventured East of Breskens, it usually looks industrial and uninviting, perhaps time to explore.

i recall guapa stopping over @ lillo, the club has pontoons out in the schelde, a clubhuis &facilitiesashore

 

[DanTribe]

i recall guapa stopping over @ lillo, the club has pontoons out in the schelde, a clubhuis &facilitiesashore

Interesting. The pontoon appears to be only for the waterbus and the haven looks to dry to soft mud Probably not suitable for a visiting yacht but a quaint little club for the dedicated.

 

[westhinder]

Interesting. The pontoon appears to be only for the waterbus and the haven looks to dry to soft mud Probably not suitable for a visiting yacht but a quaint little club for the dedicated.

I think you're right. It is no longer allowed to moor at the pontoon.