Sailing in Friesland

Travel Plan

How do I prepare for my sailing vacation?

Skippers in inland navigation start every journey with a travel plan. You can do this for your sailing vacation as well. With a travel plan, you look at the height, depth, length, and width of your boat. What route will I take and what bridges and locks will I encounter? How long will the sailing take and where are the overnight spots? And not unimportantly: what are the weather forecasts?

Dimensions of our boats

Our boats are between 7 and 10 meters long, between 2 and 3 meters wide, and have a draft of about one meter. With the masts lowered, the boats are between 2.25 m and 2.35 m high. This means you can sail under bridges that are 2.50 m high. Always keep a margin of 5 to 10 cm for the bridge height.

What routes can you sail through Friesland?

With our boats, you can sail throughout Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe. The IJsselmeer only with prior consultation and experience. With our sailing boats, you can also go onto the Wadden Sea if you have experience with it. Below, we have outlined several routes that you can use as inspiration for your sailing vacation.

What bridges and locks will I encounter?

You can sail under many bridges in Friesland and Groningen. Sometimes you need a bridge opening. The Watersport app from the province of Fryslân helps you plan your journey. In the app, you will find all the information about bridges and locks. Think of operating times, the VHF channel or phone number, the width, and the height.

Fishing in Friesland

Friesland is a true fishing paradise with countless lakes, canals, and waterways where you can enjoy fishing alongside sailing. From pike and perch to bream and carp: you will find a good fish population in Friesland. Remember to bring your fishing license before you leave and discover the amazing fishing waters in Friesland.

A day of sailing

A day of sailing in Friesland

It is a sunny morning and you have nothing planned yet. You rent a charming sloop from Varen met Sil and go to explore the Lauwersmeer National Park. With the gentle sound of rippling water, surrounded by green reed banks, your journey begins. You sail through the villages of Engwierum and Ee over the Dokkumer Diep. First, you visit Dokkum, where you sail through the old city canals and are treated to historic buildings and picturesque bridges.

In the afternoon, you seek tranquility in the Lauwersmeer area. Here you feel the freedom of the open water and the peace of nature around you. You make a stop at a secluded little island, where you enjoy a delightful picnic with a view over the lake.

Sailing rules

Below you will find the most important sailing rules. Want to know more about this? Then check the website varendoejesamen.nl.

• On the water, keep as much as possible to the starboard side (right side), even within the buoyage.
• Keep the middle of busy shipping routes clear for large vessels.
• Adjust your course and speed in time when giving way to another vessel. Do not suddenly change course and speed.
• Ensure you have good visibility all around and look back regularly.
• Sail at least 6 km per hour on large waters, rivers, and canals; large vessels also sail here.
• Anchor only where it is safe: not near bridges, locks, or work vessels with protruding anchors.

Tips for the journey

Before you come our way and go sailing in beautiful Friesland, we have some tips for you:

• Bring small change. You can use this for water, electricity, or bridge tolls. Usually, these are 50-cent, 1, or 2-euro coins.
• Marinas: in most marinas, there are toilets and showers. If you want to use these, we recommend staying overnight in a marina.
• Be mindful of bridge heights: our boats have a clearance height of about 2.30 m with the mast lowered. For sailing boats, this is of course much higher.
• Mooring fees: in our routes we have not accounted for mooring fees in the harbors. This is the responsibility of the renter.

Sailing map Friesland

Sailing map Friesland — Sailing with Sil

A sailing map of Friesland with all routes, mooring places, activities, and restaurants. Behind the scenes, we are working hard on an interactive sailing map that includes all our sailing routes and hotspots. Curious? Then keep an eye on our website.

Want even more inspiration? Then check out our sailing routes. We look forward to sharing our interactive sailing map of Friesland with you.