Zeebrugge - Bruges Canal

CliveG

CliveG

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Hi
Off for a couple of week sailing next weekend.
Found mention of a canal from Zeebrgge to Bruges with lift bridges.
We fancy exploring this.
Can't find much practical info about it on the web.
Has anyone used this canal?
What do you need to do to get access?
Are there any moorings at the Bruges end?
 
My pilot book for this area the 'North France & Belgium Cruising Companion' suggests that the moorings at Brugge are beyond the first fixed bridge so rendering the previous lifting bridges rather pointless. This guide is getting rather long in the tooth now so things might have changed in the mean time but the general consensus on this forum appears to be that visiting Brugge is best done by train from Oostend.
 
CliveG said:
Hi
Off for a couple of week sailing next weekend.
Found mention of a canal from Zeebrgge to Bruges with lift bridges.
We fancy exploring this.
Can't find much practical info about it on the web.
Has anyone used this canal?
What do you need to do to get access?
Are there any moorings at the Bruges end?
Click to expand...

Why not try Ghent. a fine City according to a well known forumite based in Shotley ;)
 
Thanks Simon.
We have done the train thing.
Just fancied trying a diffrent approch.
Bing Livemaps Birds eye view shows some box moorings on the canal with yachts moored with masts up.
 
CliveG said:
Thanks Simon.
We have done the train thing.
Just fancied trying a diffrent approch.
Bing Livemaps Birds eye view shows some box moorings on the canal with yachts moored with masts up.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Agreed, it would be nice to go there under your own keel rather than take the train - a bit like going to London :)

From memory the almanacs give the procedure for locking into the canal but sadly I don't know how accurate these descriptions are. When I last visited Zeebrugge there was no sign of anybody using the lock but I might have been passing at the wrong time.

If you do make it to Brugge with you mast intact please do report back.
 
Canals

Hi Clive .. Just had a look on Google Maps .. If you have a look at the end of the canal you will see some large vessels so the bridges must lift .. Had to go in very close on Sateilite but you can see them quite clearly .. Unless they have filled it in in the last year or so.

Have a good trip ..

Also looks to be some smaller boats moored so you maybe able to sneak on the end ..
 
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Brugge

I used to spend weeks in the fine city. Yes there is a small marina just outside the city bridge on the port side (as I remember) Going through the bridge will not help as there is no where with a masted boat to lie. There used to be a small city marina but they built a lifting bridge that works or rollers and wire rope and has quite a severe height restriction.(maybe 4m max) Hope this may help.
 
Clive
I've got an old Navicarte Itineraires Fluviaux De Belgique you are welcome to borrow.

IIRC on the NE area of Bruges there is a "roundabout" of canals.
One of them takes you further around Bruges and there is a small marina on starboard side with a "moveable" bridge on the entrance. Its either just before or after one of the main bidges on the canal because the bridge moved to let us in when we were faffing around.
 
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Biton

thanks for these links.

If you could call the habour Master that would be most useful.
I would think that we would be there around 4th September if all works as planed.
 
www.yachtclubflandria.be reservation

Contact en Reserveren


Wegens het feit dat deze uitzonderlijk gelegen jachthaven tijdens het seizoen uiteraard druk bezocht wordt, is het aan te raden Uw bezoek vooraf te melden met opgave van datum van aankomst en afmetingen van de boot, zodat tijdig de nodige schikkingen kunnen getroffen worden om U een goede ligplaats te bezorgen.

U kan hiervoor het best vooraf telefonisch kontakt opnemen met de havenmeester Johan Annys.

for reservation please contact by phone haven master johan annys on his gsm

gsm +32(0)477 384456

email info@yachtclubflandria.be
 
We are currently in Bruges, and there is indeed a fixed bridge immediately before Flandria marina. There are places to moor alongside the bank in the town itself, once you are past the industrial bit. If you dont mind having no facilities that is. We are heading towards Ostend tomorrow to re-mast, and if I see anything in the way of moorings on the north side of town (before the fixed bridge) I'll try to let you know (internet access permitting). A quick call on VHF is all it takes to get the first lock at Zeebrugge to open (the channel will be on a sign before the lock, and they all speak english). Bear in mind you might get stung for a Vignette (license) which is currently €25 for <12m LOA).

It's well worth trying to get here by boat, it's a truly lovely town.
 
Gruntle

Thanks for the info.
The news on the lock opening is what I was looking for.
Hope to get there but we are holed up in the Orwell waiting for the weather to improve.
Hope to get to Ramsgate tomorrow.
 
big seas

hi, i'm just back from the netherlands, took ferry from duinkerke to dover this morning 2am and over 50% was seasick, non of my family :)

anyway there is a big swell so take care when sailing to belgium.

will see if i can call the hm brugge and will write the answer here.


update;
have spoken with johan the hm of brugge and have replied on your pm.

basically you can reach brugge with mast up but the last bridge just before the marina is fixed with a hight of about 2 /3 meters... very smart IMHO. but you can find a place on the waiting ponton of the bridge before that what's about 6 / 7 meters high. use vhf 66 / 18 for calling the lockes and bridges.

fair winds
 
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Well we have made it to Brugge!
The trip though the sea lock was intresting.
We were followed into the lock by a very large car carrier.
He also called us on VHF to ask if we were leaving as the gate opened.
We are now moored at a new small marina belonging to the Brugge Zail Yacht Club. (We are their 10th visitor and 1st british boat:D)
1€/m/night with showers etc.
Half hour walk to the town center.
Photos and full details of the access to follow when I have broardband access.
 
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Wondered if you made it

Nice to have a chat in Ipswich . Glad you reached your destination . SWMBO sends her regards .. Shhhhh you know who . Hope the winds are kind to you for the return leg . The lock sound like fun . House painting at the moment so no boats for the next couple of weeks .

Have a good trip back ... :)
 
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