Who has been over to Holland recently

wingdiver said:
We too have never had any real issues with officials in all the areas of the Netherlands we have visited (and we've covered most of it over the years). We nearly got stopped by customs in Ijmuiden (having arrived from the Amsterdam direction) but were 'saved' by the arrival of a German flagged yacht not long after we landed which seemed to be of more interest :rolleyes:
We have been visited by customs in Blankenberge and Boulogne in the past none of whom were really a problem. Just going through the motions really.
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I was boarded by customs in Scheveningen after a month of sailing over there and they didnt care about the diesel, I had 80 litres in red, I showed them the receipts etc. They nodded and said fine!
They were more concerned over the size of a knife i had nad as they argued over it between themselves in gogglygoop and a few donkey wells and spat over the decks amongst themselves, I had emptied the cutlery draw out in front of them and as they looked at me thinking WTF i asked about the size of the bread knife and whether is was legal..
They both looked up at me and didnt say much and gave me my folding knife back and i said its on my boat and im not carrying it down the street.. They both agreed once agains saying "Donkey well"
They witnessed the ownership paper and my passport and left.. That was it.. Come time to leave they stopped as i was prepping the boat and asked a load of questions and were happy etc to learn it was my boat..
 
Would be interested to know if it is only the 'sea ports' that have customs (which I suppose is logical).
We have seen them in Den Helder, Ijmuiden and Stellendam/Hellevoetsluis and nauticalnomad mentions Scheveningen. We have never seen them in the numerous 'inland' locations.
Does this mean a trip straight to an inland stop such as Middleburg would mean no customs?
 
wingdiver said:
Would be interested to know if it is only the 'sea ports' that have customs (which I suppose is logical).
We have seen them in Den Helder, Ijmuiden and Stellendam/Hellevoetsluis and nauticalnomad mentions Scheveningen. We have never seen them in the numerous 'inland' locations.
Does this mean a trip straight to an inland stop such as Middleburg would mean no customs?
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you would need to slow down a bit passing through Vlissengen in my experience
 
wingdiver said:
Would be interested to know if it is only the 'sea ports' that have customs (which I suppose is logical).
We have seen them in Den Helder, Ijmuiden and Stellendam/Hellevoetsluis and nauticalnomad mentions Scheveningen. We have never seen them in the numerous 'inland' locations.
Does this mean a trip straight to an inland stop such as Middleburg would mean no customs?
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I have never been stopped going into Vlissingen (3 times) or anywhere else.
 
MoodySabre said:
I have never been stopped going into Vlissingen (3 times) or anywhere else.
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I have been stopped twice at Vlissingen. First time Duane popped his head over when we were in the Sport Lock, " Call in to cutter just on right through lock Please". Second time the cutter was holding station in the pool beyond the lock and they called us over. Both times very friendly, asked a few questions (mainly interested in Duty Free from Ostend), signed and dated red receipts and wished us on our way. Had Immigration come on board in Breskens, seemed impressed we had a completed "Dutch" Schengen Crew List. Maybe they just like Hallberg Rassys.:rolleyes:
 
Our one trip to Holland was via Ostend, as we crossed the Scheldte approaching Vlissingen a customs launch came up on our starboard side. He asked "What was your last port", I replied "Ostend" he just waved and went away. In Ostend we had seen no sign of customs but had posted our Schengen form.
 
I'm usually too lazy to do a Schengen form before I leave home but at Ijmuiden and Lauwersoog (inside) we have usually filled in their form at the marina offices.

I have only once been boarded while on passage by the Dutch, somewhere off Texel as far as I remember.
 
In Nieuwpoort a few years ago (before the red nonsense started) Douane with large sidearm came on board. I proudly showed him Schengen forms, all completed, off the RYA website. Pfftt he said, out of date forms, and he sat down and filled out new ones. I did tell the RYA when I got home, presumably they now have the correct ones.
Have since offered them at other ports eg Blankenberge, Middelburg, nobody interested.
 
Cantata said:
Pfftt he said, out of date forms....
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It seems to be a moving target.
We're currently in North Holland.
We arrived with what we thought to be the latest Schengen form, all filled in in advance.
Just before posting it I compared it to the forms in the Schengen form post box at IJmuiden and saw that the layout was quite different AND they now ask for HIN or SIN (Hull Identification Number) so I quickly added it to my form and posted it.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a customs rib perform a slow tour of all the pontoons of the marina at Texel but it didn't stop. Otherwise we've seen no officials so far.
 
dennyjc said:
It seems to be a moving target.
We're currently in North Holland.
We arrived with what we thought to be the latest Schengen form, all filled in in advance.
Just before posting it I compared it to the forms in the Schengen form post box at IJmuiden and saw that the layout was quite different AND they now ask for HIN or SIN (Hull Identification Number) so I quickly added it to my form and posted it.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a customs rib perform a slow tour of all the pontoons of the marina at Texel but it didn't stop. Otherwise we've seen no officials so far.
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There are far fewer officials out & about than 25 yrs ago
 
Currently sitting in Brouwershaven, came over last Sunday. Was buzzed by a coastguard plane and asked all the usual questions. Told them we were bound for Breskens,, however it cut up rough so opted for Roompot
We tried to call them up on vhf and even the phone once we got in but no-one answered.

Very few Brits over here.
Only seen four or five UK boats so far.
Another week or so to go so we might find where they are
all hiding.
 
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Brouwershaven is on our 'to do' list along with the rest of the Gravelingenmeer as we have never been in that area.
We will probably stop in Marina Port Zeeland as it's part of the 50% off mooring deal for Trans Europe marinas :cool:
Also fancy the odd night or two beside one or more of the islands, which I believe requires a weekly 'pass'.
Any info on depths and the Gravelingenmeer in general would be good.
 
wingdiver said:
Brouwershaven is on our 'to do' list along with the rest of the Gravelingenmeer as we have never been in that area.
We will probably stop in Marina Port Zeeland as it's part of the 50% off mooring deal for Trans Europe marinas :cool:
Also fancy the odd night or two beside one or more of the islands, which I believe requires a weekly 'pass'.
Any info on depths and the Gravelingenmeer in general would be good.
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We enjoyed the Gravelingenmeer very much on our Dutch trip, you buy a pass as said and can then stay at any of the islands. I would think you need an up to date chart as they seem to move the buoyage from time to time. Stampersplatz was perhaps our favourite with the wild ponies, but back then the downside was the utterly disgusting digesting toilet system. I believe that has been replaced with something less revolting.
 
Leighb said:
I would think you need an up to date chart as they seem to move the buoyage from time to time.
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A losing battle.
Last time we were in the area (May 2009) I had just splashed out on new 1800 series folios published March 2009.
Already out of date in several places (river Scheldt and Veerse Meer). :(
Chatted about this with a local - he claimed it was not uncommon, they accepted this as a fact of life.
 
We haven't been to the Grevelingen for about 15yrs when the baby stay parted on my old Sadler. I was aiming for Bruinisse but a charming girl called Oranje on our neighbouring boat in the lock told me to go to the outfit at Brouwershaven where her friend worked.

I turned up at 9am and their rigger shortly after and had an entertaining half-hour while he measured things up and made a new stay for me. At one point he had to walk the length of the building to fetch something he'd forgotten, and said "old Dutch proverb; if you don't use your brain, you use your legs". The bill came to about £30.
 
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