playbook
Half a day boating on the Spaarne
Three to four hours sailing through Haarlem city centre in an electric boat. A loop along the Spaarne, under the Gravestenenbrug and back.
4u
duration
€ 95–160
budget
Ground
pace
Half a day on the Spaarne is enough for a loop through Haarlem without clearing your whole schedule. Rental companies offer blocks of three or four hours, with start times in the morning, the afternoon and sometimes in the early evening. Expect a rate of around 95 to 160 euros per boat for six to eight people. A boating licence is not required as long as the boat moves at a gentle pace and is shorter than fifteen metres.
The route is compact: from the quay onto the Spaarne, past the Waag and the Sint-Bavokerk, under the Gravestenenbrug and back at the Buitenspaarne. Along the way you pass courtyards, old warehouses and terraces. If you like, make a brief stop at the Scheepmakersdijk for a drink. Half a day pairs nicely with a morning at the Frans Hals Museum or an afternoon on the Grote Markt.
Checklist
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Tijdslot reserveren
Snack en drinken mee
Vaaruitleg goed volgen
Route compact houden
Op tijd terugvaren
Boot netjes inleveren
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Reserve a block of three to four hours on the Spaarne, with a start time of 10:00, 14:00 or 17:00. Provide the number of people in your group.
Pack light: water, a snack, a jumper and a hat or cap. An umbrella comes in handy in changeable weather.
Get a briefing on steering and bridges. Head into the city at a relaxed pace and keep to the right on the narrow stretch of the Spaarne.
Do a loop past the Bavo, the Gravestenenbrug and the Buitenspaarne. Keep clear of tour boats and other small vessels.
Head back to the rental company in the final twenty minutes, moor up and check the boat together for any damage.
For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Book a weekday afternoon if possible for a quieter experience
- Ask what bridge clearance your boat requires
- Bring a foldable umbrella
- Allow ten minutes of extra time for mooring
- Combine with dinner along the Spaarne after returning the boat
Variations
- - Kies een zonsondergangsblok van 18:00 tot 21:00
- - Boek met schipper als beginners aan boord zijn
- - Vaar zuidwaarts richting de Liede voor minder drukte
- - Combineer met museum of marktbezoek in Haarlem