playbook
Renting a Sloep on the Spaarne Haarlem
Half a day of sailing along the Spaarne through Haarlem, past the Grote Markt and the Waarderbrug. You rent a sloep without a boating licence, from 75 euros per hour.
4u
duration
€ 300–440
budget
Ignite
pace
Renting a sloep on the Spaarne takes you through the heart of Haarlem, past the Sint-Bavokerk, the Waarderbrug and the Catharijnebrug. The Spaarne connects to the Noordzeekanaal and offers passage to the Mooie Nel and the Ringvaart. For an open sloep up to fifteen metres and a maximum of twenty kilometres per hour, no boating licence is required. The skipper must be at least eighteen years old. Booking three to four weeks in advance is advisable from May through July. Rates range between 75 and 110 euros per hour for a sloep accommodating six people.
The city route requires attention to the moveable bridges, particularly the Catharijnebrug and the Gravestenenbrug, which open at set times. The clearance height of fixed bridges is around 2.40 metres. BBQ on board is prohibited by almost all rental companies within Haarlem city, but great food can be found at Restaurant ML or Proeflokaal In den Uiver after your trip. Children under twelve are required to wear a life jacket, which is provided. Commercial shipping has right of way on the Spaarne.
Checklist
0 of 5
Brugopeningstijden noteren
Marifoonkanaal instructie volgen
Zwemvesten voor kinderen onder 12
ID-bewijs schipper
Koude lunch inpakken
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Atmosphere
by PlayTryBe team
Choose a rental company near the Scheepmakersdijk or Mooie Nel.
Book three to four weeks in advance during peak season.
Ask for instructions on the moveable bridges and the radio channel.
Put life jackets on children under twelve.
Sail via the Spaarne, Mooie Nel and back past the Bavokerk.
Keep your distance from commercial shipping and give way.
Return the sloep on time to avoid fines.
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Do as we did
Suggestions
- Book with Sloep Spaarne or Haarlem Sloepverhuur.
- Combine with lunch in Spaarndam at De IJsbreker.
- Avoid Saturday afternoons, when commercial and recreational traffic cross paths.
- For groups of eight or more, choose a sloep with a canopy.
- Set off before ten o'clock for calm waters.
Variations
- - Doorvaren naar Mooie Nel voor brede open water.
- - Avondvaart in juni langs de verlichte Bavokerk.
- - Combineer met diner aan het Spaarne na de tocht.
- - Halve dag-rondje vanuit Spaarndam zonder stadscentrum.
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