Southwest Friesland | Sailing route
Sailing a long weekend outside the high season? An excellent idea: this passage route lets you experience a large part of south-west Friesland in just a few days.
Rent a boat in Friesland
Don't have a boat of your own? Even outside the high season, you can easily rent a boat in Friesland. This route can also be taken by boaters without a boating licence. You will receive good boating instructions from the rental company at the start.
Duration of this route
This route can be done in autumn, winter or early spring with a motor yacht or sailing boat with heating on board. Assuming you cruise at about 9 km per hour, you should be able to cover the route in 3/4 days. Take it easy, stay overnight at the most beautiful places in South-West Friesland and moor regularly to enjoy sightseeing ashore.…
Sailing a long weekend outside the high season? An excellent idea: this passage route lets you experience a large part of south-west Friesland in just a few days.
Rent a boat in Friesland
Don't have a boat of your own? Even outside the high season, you can easily rent a boat in Friesland. This route can also be taken by boaters without a boating licence. You will receive good boating instructions from the rental company at the start.
Duration of this route
This route can be done in autumn, winter or early spring with a motor yacht or sailing boat with heating on board. Assuming you cruise at about 9 km per hour, you should be able to cover the route in 3/4 days. Take it easy, stay overnight at the most beautiful places in South-West Friesland and moor regularly to enjoy sightseeing ashore.
Bridge operation out of season
There are a number of high bridges and aqueducts on this route that you can sail past without fail. But there are also a few lower bridges in the route and these are not operated as a matter of course in the autumn and winter periods, you have to call (call out) first.
Calling bridges
To open other low bridges, call 058-2925888 at least 2 hours in advance. (Please note that the phone number is not available on weekends, so call firmly before 4pm on Friday for Saturday or Monday morning - most bridges are not operated on Sundays).
Free moorings in the countryside
You regularly have the water all to yourself, so that will be a relaxing cruise! You can spend the night at a secluded Marrekrite mooring. In the middle of nature, there are jetties and buoys where you can moor for free for a few nights. Here it is fantastic stargazing...! And do you need electricity, sanitation, fuel or water? Then opt for a marina.
Where to dispose of your waste
During the winter period, you won't find many rubbish containers along the way, so just keep your rubbish on board. And do you come across litter somewhere in nature? Will you take it with you? The birds and fish will thank you!
Read the 3-day programme here for more tips and inspiration.
We wish you lots of boating fun on the peaceful Frisian lakes!
Sights on this route
Grou
Grou is a touristy yet characteristic watersports village in the heart of Friesland with a lively center.
Pikmar
Het Pikmeer, officieel Pikmar, is een van de Friese meren. De start van het SKS Skûtsjesylen vindt hier plaats. Het meer ligt aan het dorp Grou en wordt ten oosten begrenst door het eiland de Burd.
Terherne
Terherne is known as the Kameleon village and is an island in the Sneekermeer. On one side, you'll find the lake, and on the other side, the Terhernster ponds.
The bombing of Terherne lock
On 11 November 1944, pilots of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based at Welschap airfield near Eindhoven, were ordered to bomb the lock at Terherne in two groups. The reason for the bombardment of Terherne lock was to restrict (German) transport movements.
The bombing of Terherne lock
On 11 November 1944, pilots of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based at Welschap airfield near Eindhoven, were ordered to bomb the lock at Terherne in two groups. The reason for the bombardment of Terherne lock was to restrict (German) transport movements. The lock complex was situated on the main shipping route from Germany via Groningen to the Randstad, along which the Germans transported goods and military equipment.
After the railway strike in September had already disrupted rail transport considerably, actions against shipping traffic followed in the months thereafter. The southern part of the country may have been liberated, but fierce battles were still to be fought in the other parts.Â
Such was the case on that 11th November just after nine o'clock in the morning when the two groups of Hawker Typhoon fighter-bombers took off shortly after each other from Eindhoven for their mission. Around 10:00, the lock at Terherne was bombed from the north for the first time and then again around 10:30. Â
The consequences were huge for the people living on the lock. The wives of both lock keepers, a one-year-old baby and a German soldier were killed. Also, pilot John Gordon Fraser's aircraft was damaged to such extent that he had to make an emergency landing at St. Johannesga. Although the bombing resulted in the northern passageway being deactivated and no longer usable, the southern passageway remained open and could still be used.  Â
Today, a boathouse for the State yacht of the province of Friesland has been built over the southern passage. A new building, that serves as a guest house for the province, was put up on the site of the lock keeper's house on the south side. Â
A monument has been erected on the northern pier in memory of those who perished at the lock. This monument was unveiled on 10 November 1985 by Hattum Hoekstra, son of 1st lock keeper Wiemer and Tietje Hoekstra. Since then, the commemoration of the dead in Terherne has always taken place at the old lock, and the children of primary school 'It Kampke' have adopted the monument.  Â
Sneekermeer
The Sneekermeer (Frisian and official: Snitser Mar) is, of course, known for the Sneekweek, the annual sailing races held on this lake.
Kolmeersland Starteiland Sneekermeer
Net buiten Sneek, in het Sneekermeer, ligt het Kolmeersland, oftewel het Starteiland, dat vooral bekend is vanwege de zeilwedstrijden tijdens de Sneekweek en het skûtsjesilen. Rondom het eiland kan worden aangemeerd in één van de jachthavens.
Kolmeersland Starteiland Sneekermeer
Kolmeersland Starteiland Sneekermeer
Starteiland
komeerlan 1
8626 GD Offingawier
Brug Uitwellingerga
Als je door het Prinses Margrietkanaal vaart, kom je deze hoge brug bij Uitwellingerga tegen. Vanwege de hoogte van meer dan 7 meter, kunnen de meeste watersporters er gewoon onderdoor varen. Let op: de brug wordt op dit moment niet bediend voor de scheepvaart!
Aanlegsteiger SN52A
Een aanlegsteiger aan een onbewoond eilandje in het Aldhôf (Oudhof): een watertje ten zuiden van Sneek.Â
Jeltesleat Akwadukt
When sailing through the Jeltesloot near Hommerts, you will eventually cross the N354, using the aqueduct through the Jeltesloot.
Woudsend (Wâldsein)
Woudsend is a village nestled between Lake Heegermeer and Lake Slotermeer.
Hellingbrêge Woudsend
If you sail or drive through the beautiful center of Woudsend, you will undoubtedly come across the high Hellingbrêge.
Ie Akwadukt
South of Woudsend, since 2007, you can find the Ie Aqueduct: an aqueduct at the intersection of the river De Ie and the N928.
Slotermeer (Sleattemer Mar)
The Sleattemer Mar (also known as the Slotermeer) is situated between the three towns of Sloten, Balk, and Woudsend.
Sloten (Sleat)
Sloten (or Sleat as we say in Friesland) is the smallest Elfsteden town in Friesland. This walled mini-city is also called sipelstêd (Frisian for onion city) thanks to the unique shape of an onion.
Nieuwe Langebrug Sloten
Vaar je over de Easterbûtengrêft, het water aan de oostelijke zijde van het Elfstedenstadje Sloten, dan kom je vanzelf de Nieuwe Langebrug tegen.Â
Groote Brekken
The Groote Brekken (Frisian: de Grutte Brekken) is also referred to as Lemster Brekken.
Follegabrug
Daar waar de Straatweg in Follega en de Follegeasleat elkaar kruisen, vind je de Follegabrug. De Follegeasleat verbindt de Groote Brekken met de Tsjûkemar.
Tjeukemeerbrug
De Tjeukemeerbrug is een hoge brug in de snelweg A6, hij brengt je over het grootste binnenwater Friesland.
Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)
The Tjeukemeer is the largest inland lake in Friesland.
Scharsterrijnbrug
The Scharsterrijnbrug is located on the A6 motorway, just before the Joure interchange. Due to the busy nature of this highway, the bridge is only open for 1 minute every half hour.
Brug Scharsterbrug
In het dorp Scharsterbrug draait alles om de brug! Niet alleen in de dorpsnaam, het dorpje wordt daadwerkelijk in tweeën gedeeld door het water van de Scharster Rien.
Langweerder Wielen (Langwarder Wielen)
The Langweerder Wielen is located to the west of Joure.
Langweer
Langweer is a true watersports destination. From this centrally located village in the Frisian lake area, you can sail in all directions.
Brug Noorder Oudeweg
De Noorder Oudeweg is geen weg voor automobilisten, maar een waterweg! Deze waterweg verbindt de Langweerder Wielen met het meertje de Alde Wei bij Broek.
Goaiingarypster Puollen
The Goingarijpster Puollen is connected to the Sneekermeer at multiple locations.
Brug Heerenzijl
De brug Heerenzijl is te vinden tussen de Friese watersportdorpjes Terkaple en Terherne aan de Hearresyl weg.
Public mooring spot SN09A
Public mooring spot on a small island in the Terkaplester Puollen, near the village of Terherne.
Akkrum
Akkrum is a charming watersports village in the heart of the Frisian lake district, near the National Park De Alde Feanen.
Aanlegplaatsen It Gearstalt Akkrum
Vlakbij de spoorbrug, dicht in de buurt van het centrum van Akkrum, is er een passantenkade.
