Anyone travelling on their own keel on the waters between the Waddenzee and Westerschelde in the summer of 2021 could see that they were as busy as ever. However, the flags at the stern were much less varied than in previous years - red, white and blue dominated. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Dutch, who are usually so keen on travelling, had stayed at home, as had the German skippers.
This season, however, the picture is likely to change again. A trip to the neighbouring country is more worthwhile than ever: the Dutch are investing relentlessly in their maritime infrastructure. Unfortunately, however, some issues that have been hotly debated for years remain topical, such as the ban on faecal discharge and the associated plans to seal seacocks on pleasure craft.
This will now come in 2023 at the earliest. Until then, those responsible still have to clarify many unanswered questions, such as who will carry out the sealing, how much it will cost and who will monitor it. And also when there will finally be an approved wastewater treatment plant for pleasure craft, which would then allow the discharge of treated wastewater on board.
The second major topic is antifouling. The list of paints containing biocides that are still authorised in the Netherlands is getting shorter and shorter. So it's high time to think about possible alternatives - at least for all those who have a permanent berth in a neighbouring country and are therefore affected by the rules on underwater painting that apply there. Meanwhile, scientific studies have shown that neither the approved biocide-based paints nor the non-toxic alternatives provide an answer to the fouling pressure in the Veerse Meer and Grevelinger Meer.
Amsterdam's city council is dealing with a completely different problem: the overcrowded canals. A vignette is now being introduced to remedy the situation. It is to cost 40 euros. The only problem is that it is not yet available to foreigners! It is possible to pass through Amsterdam from the Oranjesluizen towards the North Sea without a vignette. But if you want to travel through Amsterdam via the Staande Mastroute, for example, you have to have it on board. It has therefore been announced that foreign yachts will be tolerated without a vignette at least until the middle of the year. What will happen after that remains to be seen. Alternatively, you can travel via Haarlem. The fee can be paid to the bridge keeper there.
The following list shows what else has happened in the neighbouring country from north to south.
1st Eemshaven
The Eemshaven, which is reserved for commercial shipping, can now also be used by pleasure craft. However, only if it becomes so uncomfortable in the area that the crew must seek a safe harbour of refuge. Call the harbour on VHF channel 66 before entering.
2nd Makkum
The nearby wind farm in the IJsselmeer has been completed and sailing between the wind turbines is now open.
3 Friesland
Openings for 18 important bridges can now also be requested out of season online via the website vaarweginformatie.nl.
4th Marchjepolle
A new jetty on the popular island in the Tjeukemeer has apparently been deliberately destroyed by fire. However, Marrekrite, an organisation that organises the construction and operation of many moorings, wants to rebuild it as quickly as possible.
5th Marker Wadden
It sounds like a bad joke, but the artificial islands in the Markermeer seem to be sinking. The initiators of the project argue that this was planned. Critics such as emeritus professor of hydraulic engineering Dr Bart Schultz, on the other hand, are of the opinion that the layering of silt on silt cannot last in the long term. The fact is that the islets have already subsided by several decimetres in some places.
6th Markermeer
A permit has been issued for one per cent of the surface area of the water to mow the nuisance aquatic plants. Activities are focussed on areas in front of Hoorn and in the approach to the Gouwzee.
7 Flevoland
All hydraulic engineering works in the province have been standardised to VHF channel 64. Attention! The Naviduct in Enkhuizen in North Holland is also under the administration of the province of Flevoland.
8th Zaandam
The Coenbrug over the Zaan is defective, but the passage is still 6.20 metres high with the bridge now closed. The Staande Mastroute through Noord-Holland therefore currently runs over the Zijkanaal D and the Nauernasche Vaart.
9. Amsterdam
Initially, it was to be a bridge connecting the Noord district with the rest of the city centre to the south. In the meantime, however, the municipality has submitted plans for two bridges, each 12.50 metres high and movable. There will be waiting areas in front of each. One bridge to the east will connect Java Island with Aeolushaven, while the other to the west will lead from Houthaven to Amsterdam Marina. Construction is scheduled to start in 2026 at the latest.
10 IJmuiden
The Dutch have built the largest lock in the world on the North Sea coast: 500 metres long, 70 metres wide and 18 metres deep. It was intended to keep the harbour of Amsterdam attractive for cruise ships. But the municipality no longer wants them. The huge chamber also causes too much salt in the water of the Noordzeekanaal. The use of the new chamber is therefore being reduced to the bare minimum, with pleasure craft continuing to use the southern lock.
11th Haringvliet Bridge
This season, the bridge opens daily at 10 am and 8 pm from 1 April to 5 June, and at 11 am, 5 pm and 7 pm on weekends and public holidays. From 6 June to 31 October, it opens daily at 11 am and 7 pm, and at 5 pm on weekends and public holidays. The movable part will remain closed next year as it needs to be renovated.
12th Grevelingen Sea
Europe's largest saltwater lake is struggling with poor water quality. There is almost no life left in the deeper layers and there is a lack of oxygen. Since December, the exchange not only with the North Sea, but also with the Oosterschelde has been open again, making a real flow possible. The currents are small and negligible for water sports enthusiasts.
13th Borssele offshore wind farm
Wind farms in the Netherlands are actually freely navigable during the day for pleasure craft up to 24 metres in length, provided that an active AIS and a VHF radio are in operation on board. However, passage through the Borssele wind farm around 20 nautical miles off the coast of Walcheren is only permitted within a narrow corridor. This is a problem, as the space between existing and planned parks, anchorage areas, oil and gas platforms and traffic separation schemes on the North Sea is slowly becoming scarce. The Watersportverbond is therefore now taking legal action against this passage restriction.
14. zandkreek
The connection from the Oosterschelde to the Veerse Meer has been dredged. The depth is now again 3.0 metres throughout at LAT in the middle of the navigation channel.
15th Oosterschelde
The Keeten fairway between the Zeeland Bridge and the Krammersluizen has been given a so-called Fietspad on its northern side. Don't be confused, this is not only the Dutch term for a cycle path, but also a fairway next to the main fairway, which is reserved for recreational boating. It is around 150 metres wide. This is intended to give the sometimes heavy freight traffic more room to pass through safely. But beware: outside the new buoyage, however, it quickly becomes shallow and the sandy bottom there is very hard.
16 Antwerp
The harbour area on the Scheldt up to the port of Linkeroever may only be navigated with an active AIS and radio.
Need more information? You can find the Revierupdate as part of the Netherlands Journal in BOOTE issue 07/2022 - available from newsagents from 15 June 2022 or online directly in the Delius Klasing Shop.
