Sailing information Woudsend

Sailing in the Area of Woudsend

Friesland is the water sports province of the Netherlands, where both beginner and experienced skippers feel at home! It is a true paradise for water sports enthusiasts. With its vast lakes, winding canals, and picturesque villages, the province offers countless beautiful places to explore by boat. Along the way, you will pass historical landmarks, museums, local events, and plenty of opportunities for active excursions. Friesland is also a popular destination for anglers. Thanks to the abundance of water, most Frisians are naturally avid water sports enthusiasts — creating an instant connection and making the province particularly welcoming.

Below you will find detailed information about the different boating routes. No boating license is required for any routes on the inland waterways. Additional regulations apply when sailing on the IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea — see the section on Zone II waters below. Our routes are divided into routes for Campi Houseboats and motor yachts.

Do you have questions about a route or want more information? Please contact us at contact@drait.com or +31 512 513 276. Of course, you can also ask your questions at check-in or during the on-board instruction. Our staff — often enthusiastic water sports lovers themselves — are happy to assist you.

 

Have you rented a Campi 400 Houseboat from Woudsend? Then a unique boating experience awaits you! With our comfortable houseboat, you can enjoy a holiday on the water in a completely new way. Boating is combined with the comfort and atmosphere of home. Thanks to the slow cruising speed, you can explore the surroundings at a relaxed pace and moor or overnight in the middle of nature. Below you will find routes that are ideal for the Campi 400 from Woudsend. The routes are divided into weekend/midweek, midweek/week, and week options. The boating area for more experienced water sports enthusiasts is also indicated.

Please note: The Campi 400 is not suitable for long-distance trips or for sailing on Zone II waters, including the IJsselmeer. Always keep a nautical chart handy for water depths, clearance heights, and other navigation information. Regularly check weather apps for wind strength. Sailing the Campi 400 is not allowed in winds above force 4.

Here you will find the map with our favorite sailing routes for our motor yachts and cutter yachts from Woudsend. The routes are organized for a weekend/midweek, a week, and two weeks. You can open a larger version of the map by clicking on the icon on the right (square). Here you will also find, in addition to the routes, several marinas, mooring locations, activities, and attractions.

⚠ Watch out: Take into account water depths, weather conditions, bridge opening times, and clearance heights when planning a route.
 
📄 Would you prefer a paper version of the sailing routes? Then please contact us via contact@dedrait.com

Even outside the regular boating season, our comfortable boats allow you to enjoy all the beauty Friesland has to offer. A major advantage of boating is the peace and quiet. It is easy to find a spot to stay overnight. The locals in Friesland still go boating as well, so you will certainly not be the only one on the water. Bridges and locks are in operation, making multiple routes possible.

Bridges and locks

Many bridges and locks in Friesland are operated remotely between November 1 and March 31, from Monday to Saturday. There is usually no service on Sundays and public holidays. More information about bridge and lock operations can be read here. An up-to-date overview of the opening hours per bridge or lock can be found on the website of the Province of Friesland.  A number of bridges and locks are centrally controlled remotely. You can register via the report button. If you are within range of the cameras, their presence is detected and controls are usually initiated. For some bridges you can request service two hours in advance.  In addition, there are bridges with a large clearance, which you can sail under without an opening. This applies, for example, to the bridges over the Prinses Margriet Canal.

Marinas and facilities

During the winter period, several marinas remain open – including our own marinas in Woudsend and Drachten.  On the  Waterland van Friesland , you can find a convenient overview of marinas that are open in winter, including information about available facilities. In addition, you can go for free to one of the Marrekrite jetties and buoys.   

Routes, marinas and bridges

* The route map is for inspiration purposes. Always use the current nautical charts and water almanac for navigation. The map is subject to change.

For proper preparation of your boating trip, we have included important information in the “Winter Boating” overview map.

On this map you will find various routes that can be navigated without bridge operation from our marinas in Drachten and Woudsend. The map indicates different types of bridge operation:

Bridges operated on request are marked with an orange icon.
Bridges operated remotely from a central location are marked with a green icon.

In addition, the map shows an overview of open marinas (blue anchor), mooring spots without facilities (orange anchor), and an overview of activities.

 

From our locations in Drachten and Woudsend, standard boating routes have been prepared for a weekend, midweek, and week, which you can follow. Click the buttons below for the PDF version. The PDFs also include daily mooring places, restaurant tips, and sights, so you can fully enjoy your winter boating trip.

Weekroute Drachten and Woudsend
Midweek/weekend Drachten
Midweek/Weekend Woudsend

Openings hours per province

For detailed information about bridges and bridge operation (including bridge numbers from the nautical chart), you can refer to Wateralmanak 2. If you want more information about bridge operation in a specific province, please consult the websites below:

Bridges in Friesland

General operating hours (April 1 – October 31):
Bridges are generally operated from 09:00 to 19:00 (except for any breaks). In June, July, and August, operating hours are extended until 20:00. For operations on public holidays, please refer to Wateralmanak 2.

Winter period (November 1 – March 31):
See the information for boating between November 1 and March 31.

Turf Route:

  • Bridge operation from May 15 to September 15.

  • Daily from 09:30 to 16:30, without a lunch break.

  • No Sunday operation, except on Sundays in July and August.

Polderhoofdkanaal:

  • Daily bridge operation from May 15 to September 15.

On-call operation in cities:

  • Leeuwarden: Call for bridge operation on request: +31 58 2120968

  • Harlingen: Call the Harbor Service: +31 517 412512

In Friesland, there are more than 3,800 free mooring spots managed by  Recreatieschap Marrekrite. These spots range from simple piers to sturdy concrete quays and are often located in beautiful and peaceful natural surroundings. They are marked with a blue-and-white sign featuring a sailboat. Mooring is free here and allowed for a maximum of three days. Read more…

Marrekrite Pennant
To help maintain this network, a contribution can be made by purchasing a Marrekrite Pennant for €20. This can be purchased at the harbor office in Drachten and Woudsend*. 

Moorning information & MarBoeien
View the overview map on the  website of Recreatieschap Marrekrite for all the mooring locations. Click on ‘map’ in the top left of the menu. Additionally, you can also moor at the MarBoeien. There are about 90 of these spread across Friesland, including in  Nationaal Park De Alde Feanen. Mooring is very easy; you can easily secure your boat on the water within one minute. Watch the instructional video here . 

* While supplies last. 

For planning a route online or navigating during your trip on a phone or tablet, we have listed a few options. 

  • Waterkaart.live: On the website, you can find the water map with information about buoys, bridge and lock opening times, marinas, and more. The app itself can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and is free to use for the first four days; after that, the cost is €9.95 per year. 
  • Windfinder: When planning a route, take wind strength into account. Therefore, consult the Windfinder app before departure. 
  • Marineplan: The Marineplan website can be used for planning a route. 

Friesland has an extensive network of marinas, ranging from large, well-equipped marinas to small, picturesque harbors. In almost every town or village, there is a marina with visitor moorings and various facilities. A complete list of all marinas in Friesland can be found here.

In Friesland, many mooring spots are located along quays in town and village centers. You can moor here as long as spaces are available. Payment can be made via a QR code, at the harbor office, a payment machine, or with the harbor master. Examples of these mooring spots include:

  • Centrum Lemmer

  • Zuiderkade and Hellinghaven in Grou

  • Centrum Sneek, Houkesloot in Sneek

  • Stoombootkade in Bolsward

  • Trekwei in Workum

  • Schans in Stavoren

  • Kade in Sloten

Reservations: At most marinas in Friesland, it is not possible to make a reservation in advance. Visitors can register at the visitor pier before the harbor master assigns a mooring. Some marinas in Friesland do offer the possibility to reserve in advance. This can be done via the marina’s website or through special apps that allow booking a visitor mooring in a marina.

In Friesland, there are several locations where visiting boats can empty their wastewater tanks. Wastewater can mainly be emptied at larger marinas and at pump stations along the waterways. Wastewater pumps can be found at locations such as:

  • Jachthaven De Drait Drachten
  • Jachthaven De Drait Woudsend
  • Passantenhaven Earnewald
  • Passantenhaven Prinsentuin Leeuwarden
  • De Hellingshaven Grou
  • Pikmeerhaven Grou
  • Jachthaven Drijfveer Akkrum
  • Jachthaven Sneekerhof Irnsum
  • Jachthaven De Schiffart Terherne
  • Jachthaven De Domp Sneek (Vuilwaterpomp bij Houkesloot)
  • Passantenhaven Heegerwâl Heeg 
  • Jachthaven It Soal Workum
  • Jachthaven De Kuilart Koudum
  • Marina Stavoren
  • Jachthaven De Lemsterpoort Sloten
  • Passantenhaven Langweer
  • Passantenhaven Joure
  • Jachthaven Lemmer Binnen
  • Jachthaven Echtenerbrug
  • Marina Makkum

How often the wastewater tank on a boat needs to be emptied depends on several factors, such as the size of the tank, the number of people on board, and how often the toilet and/or other facilities are used. For a weekend trip, it is often not necessary to empty the tank in between. Check the wastewater tank gauge for an indication of how full the tank is and empty it if necessary. 

GTL Refueling on the Water – Yachts/Motorboats

All motorboats off De Drait run on GTL (Gas to Liquid). GTL is a synthetic fuel derived from natural gas and is more environmentally friendly than regular diesel. GTL can be refueled on the water at locations in Friesland such as:

  • Jachthaven De Drait Drachten
  • Jachthaven De Drait Woudsend
  • Wester Watersport Eernewoude
  • Oliehandel P. Pander Wartena
  • Jachthaven Lunegat Kollum
  • Jachthaven Noordergat Lauwersmeer
  • De Twirre Watersport Langweer
  • Recreatiepark Idskenhuizen 
  • Houkesloot Sneek (Veenema Energy)
  • Van Roeden Watersport Heeg
  • Jachthaven Lemmer Binnen
  • Jachthaven Hindeloopen
  • Marina Stavoren Buitenhaven
  • Jachthaven It Soal Workum
  • Marina Makkum

Tip: Most boats have a fuel tank of 500–1000 liters. This means fuel consumption is relatively slow and may not be immediately visible on the fuel gauge. Not traveling for more than two weeks? Then it is likely that you won’t need to refuel during your trip. Upon return, we refill the boat, and the fuel used will be deducted from the deposit.

If you do need to refuel while on the water and are not near the above-mentioned fuel stations, you can also check Wateralmanak 2 for nearby marinas to see if they offer GTL. 

Euro 98 Refueling on the Water – Houseboats
Our Campi Houseboats and BunBo’s run on Euro 98, unleaded petrol. This fuel can be refueled at various fuel stations and marinas throughout Friesland. It is likely that you can also refuel with Euro 98 at the previously mentioned fuel stations. Unsure whether Euro 98 is available at a location? Then call the marina or fuel station to check.

 

For navigating in Zone II waters in the Netherlands, such as the IJsselmeer, Markermeer, and the Wadden Sea, additional requirements apply. We ask that you have experience and/or hold a valid boating license (1 and 2 or Inland and Sea). Written permission from Yachtcharter De Drait is required to sail in these waters.

In addition, you will need a Charter Package and life jackets for every passenger. The Charter Package, which can be rented for €75, includes nautical charts, a sounding compass, emergency signals, a tidal atlas, and binoculars. Life jackets can be booked for €5 each (also for children), or you may bring your own. 

Further information and conditions regarding navigating Zone II waters can be found in our general terms and conditions (from page 7).

Click the button below to fill out the online form with the terms and conditions for Zone II waters.

Voorwaarden Zone II

Filling out this online form is required to obtain permission to navigate Zone II waters. Permission is only valid if it has been confirmed by email. 

What rules apply on (most) Dutch inland waterways? All of these rules can be found in the Inland Navigation Regulations (BPR). The BPR applies to everyone and to every vessel, both commercial and recreational. Click the button below to open the BPR.

BPR - 'Binnenvaartpolitiereglement'