The island world of Zeeland, on the western coast of the Netherlands, with several calmed inlets, offers plenty of opportunities to spend a quieter sail on the edge of the North Sea. The region is a popular water sports destination, gathers cozy häfen within a short distance as well as charming coastal towns. From Zeeland you can also sail on the Staande Mastroute with a higher yacht parallel to the coast in inland waters via Rotterdam to Amsterdam and the IJsselmeer. If you do go to the North Sea, you can sail along the coast of Belgium to the seaside towns or further üvia the Ärmelkanal to the south coast of England to the beautiful Isle of Wight and to Southampton. Our bases Yerseke on the Oosterschelde and Kortgene in the tide-free Veerse Meer are centrally located in Zeeland, so you have plenty of options from here, even on a short weekend trip.
Climate: temperate with temperatures from 15 to 22 degrees
.
Season: from June to September
Yacht charter Zeeland
Zeeland is the westernmost province on the mainland coast of the Netherlands. It lies mostly below sea level and has lost and regained land to the sea over many centuries. After a storm surge in the 1950s, protective systems were finally built to the approaches to the North Sea, which are now intended to protect the islands and bays in the delta from flooding. This has also led to a general calming of the waters between the islands and has developed the province of Zeeland into a recreational and water sports area. Knowledge of tidal navigation remains necessary for sailing in the delta. But even those who want to practice just this, have the possibility to approach via tide-free waters like the Grevelingen and Veerse Meer. The infrastructure is very good with many moorings on the islands and in the harbors.
From north to south you have the possibility to sail in different sea arms: Haringvliet, Hollands Diep, Grevelingenmeer, Oosterschelde, Veerse Meer and Westerschelde separate the islands and form deep bays along the coast. Except for the Westerschelde, the other inlets are equipped with dikes or protective weirs.
Sailing in the islands of Zeeland
The Veerse Meer winds narrowly between the North Sea and the Oosterschelde, separating the island of Noord-Beveland from its southern part. It has been separated from the North Sea, so you can only sail in from the Oosterschelde. There are no tides here either. The Veerse Meer is very popular with water sports enthusiasts, so it can get crowded here in the high season. This is also where one of our launching ports, Kortgene, is located.
The base Yerseke is located only about 30 kilometers south of Kortgene on the Oosterschelde. The town The Oosterschelde was not separated from the North Sea with dikes, but with elaborate, flexible weirs. During storm surge they can be closed completely, but otherwise they still ensure the exchange of salt water between the North Sea and the Oosterschelde. Therefore, you still sail here in tidal waters, but more attenuated. It was decided to preserve the exchange after the nature in the Oosterschelde began to change with increasing concentration of fresh water, fish and birds disappeared, which were native here. Today they can be seen again in the Oosterschelde National Park, as well as harbor porpoises and seals, which have regained access to the estuary with the opening of the weirs. Experienced divers (because of the currents) can explore a special underwater world here because of the biodiversity.
Also what protects the bays from the tide today is a modern technical sight: the storm surge weir of the Delta Works. On the artificial island of Neeltje Jans, the visitor center provides information about the construction and special features of the "Eighth Wonder of the World." An amusement park is also attached. Since the 1950s, the weir has protected Zeeland from flooding after a storm surge cost the lives of over 1800 people.
The Haringvliet is the northernmost estuary near the city of Rotterdam, which you can also reach by canal from here. From here you can also sail out to the North Sea. In the Haringsvliet watch out for buoyage, there are shoals here.
Willemstad on Hollands Diep is also worth a visit. Protected by dikes, the small town lies on a star-shaped island. The shape reveals that it was once a fortress, which is still preserved and can be visited. The marina with over 200 berths is sheltered from the wind behind the dikes in front of the town. The Hollands Diep also leads to de Biesbosch National Park. The visitor center provides information about its special flora and fauna and about its history, for example as a hiding place for resistance fighters during World War II. Rotterdam can also be reached via canals heading north. The Hollands Diep is more frequented by commercial shipping than the Haringvliet.
Via locks you can reach the freshwater Volkerak to the west, which connects the Haringvliet with the Grevelingenmeer. Here there are no tides, but peace and quiet through the green, flat landscape with water resting places.
The Grevelingenmeer is today the largest saltwater inland lake in Western Europe. Two dams separate the sea from the North Sea, but the salinity is the same, because the water exchange has been maintained by a sieve. Because of this, harbor porpoises and seals still come to the bay. In the Grevelingenmeer, besides oyster fishing, water sports are important. Due to the locks, the water is now tide-free and there is little rush hour traffic.
The westernmost arm of the sea near the border with Belgium is the Westerschelde. It is not separated from the North Sea by dikes or weirs, so tides and currents are most pronounced here. Professional shipping is also concentrated here, because the Belgian city of Antwerp, with the second largest port in Europe, is located at the mouth of the Scheldt. For experienced sailors, it is worth visiting the city with its many preserved historical sites and numerous museums, including local old masters such as Rubens and van Dyck, who lived and worked here.
The capital of the province of Zeeland, Middelburg, is also located on the Westerschelde on the island of Walcheren. The city has a marina connected to the sea by a canal. It is also surrounded by a water ring, which served for defense and transportation. Middelburg was once one of the trading cities of the Dutch East India Company, even the most important after Amsterdam. Even today, walking through the city, you can see the richness of the past. Winding alleys meander through the town, lined with chic canal houses. Also worth seeing are the 17th-century city gate and Kloveniersdoelen, as well as the 15th-century Stadhuis on the market square. The patrician houses around the market square are also authentic. With attention to detail in the architecture, there is much to discover in the buildings. An attraction in front of the town house is also the table with a miniature of the town and two chairs. Sit on one of the chairs and ask your fellow travelers what is happening. The Lange Jan, a tower of the 12th century abbey, is the third largest tower in the Netherlands. From here, after 200 steps, you can enjoy the view over the city.
Directly on the coast to the Westerschelde is the town of Vlissingen. In the harbor you surround historic cottages with restaurants and cafes. Unlike Middelburg, the backdrop of the city is mainly the bed castles lined up along the coast. However, here you will find a long sandy beach where you can spend a sunny day and listen to the wind organ, of which there are only three in Europe, in its constant concert.
Yacht charter Zeeland - set sail with 1a Yachtcharter!
