Sailing with a flat-bottomed boat, what is that?

This is how sailing with a flat-bottomed boat works. Have you always wanted to sail with a flat-bottomed boat but are not exactly sure what it entails? We are happy to provide you with more information. Flat-bottomed boats are classic vessels that have been sailing the Dutch waters for many years. A flat-bottomed boat has a shallow draft, making it very suitable for sailing on the Wadden Sea.

Sailing flat-bottomed boats on the Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage site and, in our opinion, the most beautiful natural area in the Netherlands. The Dutch Wadden Sea is home to the islands of Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog. Do you want to visit all the Wadden Islands during your vacation? Then island hopping with a flat-bottomed boat is a great idea! Besides the islands, there is much more to see and do on the Wadden Sea. For instance, you can run aground at low tide.

Running aground with a flat-bottomed boat

Running aground is perhaps one of the most beautiful things you can do on the Wadden Sea. You sail with high tide to a sandbank. Gradually, the water recedes, and the boat rests on the sandy bottom. You step off the boat and stand with your feet on the seabed. You can take a walk on a sandbank and discover the life in the seabed. Make sure you are back on the boat before the water rises again, as the boat will then float free from the seabed.

What is a flat-bottomed boat?

A flat-bottomed boat is a vessel with a flat bottom. These boats have almost no keel; instead, they have leeboards. Flat-bottomed boats can easily run aground.

Flat-bottomed boats were historically used for fishing and transport in shallow waters. In Friesland, tjalks and prams were used to transport peat and manure through shallow waterways to the Randstad.

Different types of flat-bottomed boats from Varen met Sil

Varen met Sil currently rents out various flat-bottomed boats. The fleet currently consists of two Lemsteraken, two Zeeschouwen, and one Grundel.

Frisian flat-bottomed boat, the lemsteraak

The lemsteraak is a traditional Frisian flat-bottomed boat. The design was created in Lemmer. The first lemsteraak was built in 1876 in Lemmer by shipyard de Boer. The aak was originally intended as a fishing vessel for the Wadden Sea and the Zuiderzee.

It soon became apparent that the lemsteraak was also very suitable as a pleasure yacht. The first lemsteraak delivered as a yacht was built in 1907. A famous lemsteraak is De Groene Draeck of Princess Beatrix.

What is a zeeschouw?

The zeeschouw emerged in the early 1900s out of economic necessity. Fishing on the Zuiderzee was struggling, and the ships built for this purpose were too expensive to build and maintain. The new zeeschouwen were constructed as seaworthy, large, and robust vessels. Fishermen had to be able to go out to sea in any weather condition and at any time of year with their schouw. The zeeschouw features a botter rig: a mainsail with a straight gaff, a fisherman’s foresail, and a jib on a loose boom.

What is a grundel?

The design of the grundel evolved from the Aalsmeer punter. This was the universal means of transport on and around the former Haarlemmermeer. In the design of the grundel, the stern of the punter was replaced by a flat transom. In the past, it was rigged with a sprit rig or a tower rig; now, it is often a gaff rig.

Flat-bottomed boats

Flat-bottomed boats are stable and spacious vessels with a flat bottom and shallow draft. With a flat-bottomed boat, you can easily run aground. Have you become curious about sailing with a flat-bottomed boat?

Then check out our flat-bottomed boat page, choose a boat, and go sailing and running aground on the Wadden Sea!

Sailing with Flat-bottomed Boats

At Varen met Sil, you can rent a flat-bottomed boat for your sailing holiday. From the departure harbor Lunegat in Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen, you can get accustomed to your boat on the Lauwersmeer. After that, you go through the lock at Lauwersoog, and the Wadden Sea opens up before you. Within an hour and a half, you will be confidently sailing on the beautiful mudflats.

From here, you can sail to the marina of Schiermonnikoog. You can run aground on Engelsmanplaat and spot seals at Kuipersplaat. If you are out for a longer trip, you can island hop. Sail via the wantij to Ameland, Terschelling, and Vlieland. If the wind is not favorable, you can also go the other way. Sail along the dike to Noordpolderzijl, the smallest tidal harbor in the Netherlands, and run aground under the eastern tip of Schiermonnikoog.

Renting a flat-bottomed boat without a skipper

At Varen met Sil, you can rent a flat-bottomed boat without a skipper; you only need sailing experience. If you have no experience with flat-bottomed sailing or sailing on the mudflats, we are happy to provide you with extra lessons. We have put together three courses. Course 1 is for people with flat-bottomed experience who want to get to know the boat. You will then maneuver in and around the harbor with an experienced flat-bottomed skipper.

Course 2 is for people with sailing experience on the mudflats but no flat-bottomed experience. You will go out on the Lauwersmeer with an experienced flat-bottomed skipper and hoist the sails. Along the way, you will receive tips and tricks about sailing and maneuvering on a flat-bottomed boat.

The third course is for sailors without mudflat and flat-bottomed experience. In this course, you will get to know the boat, take your time to hoist the sails, and go out on the Wadden Sea to gain experience with the tides.

In this way, we ensure that every sailor sets off worry-free with a flat-bottomed boat. Do you want more information about our courses? Please contact us.

When will you go sailing with one of our flat-bottomed boats?

Book your sailing holiday now!