Sailing in Zeeland

After 2 nights in Dordrecht we left for the Haringvliet. We enjoyed our stay but the bells of the Grote Kerk of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk kept us awake all night, they were really loud and chimed all night long. Leaving to travel west needs to be timed correctly as just around the corner is a railway bridge that needs to be lifted. The river here is really busy with commercial shipping of all shapes and sizes. We were heading onto the Oude Maas which provides an alternative route back to Rotterdam’s ports and the sea. We were making good progress, the current was providing a few knots of speed. This was not… Read More

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More Canal Travels

Before heading down the final section of the North Holland Canal we visited De Zaanse Shans a collection of historic buildings and windmills that have been reconstructed by the river Zaan. Wind power was used for all sorts of things, included in the collection was a sawmill and a dye mill.  In our last update we still had to motor the last section of the North Holland canal. We could not go down the Zaan as there is a bridge that has been out of service for a few years preventing yachts from passing. There is a diversion through the Nauerhasche Vaart with a stated height restriction of 18m, a… Read More

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Island Girl becomes a Canal Boat

After a week in IJmuiden we left to go up to Central Amsterdam. To access the canal you go through the sea locks and down onto the North Sea Canal. This canal is used by a lot of commercial shipping, we were shadowed most of the way by a Superyacht Scout. We also passed a cruise ship heading out as we approached Amsterdam. We stayed 2 nights at Sixhaven marina. This was a great place to stay, quiet but only a few minutes on the free ferry to Amsterdam Central Station. We had booked tickets for Keukenhof on Friday, this is a world famous tulip garden. As mentioned in our… Read More

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