Rent a motorboat on the Maasplassen for half a day
4 h€ 130-260 Calm
Half a day out on the Maasplassen near Roermond, with a loop around the Hatenboerplas and a stop at a shallow little beach.
For anyone with less time on their hands, half a day on the Maasplassen is a great formula: three to four hours on the water around Roermond, plenty for a loop around the lake plus a swimming stop. Prices are roughly €130 to €250 for a boat up to six people, often with an electric motor so you don't have to pay separately for fuel. A boating licence is not required below 20 km/h, and because the Maasplassen are relatively shallow near the banks the area is friendly for beginners and families with young children.
De Hatenboer in Roermond is the most central departure point: from there you're on the Hatenboerplas within ten minutes. With half a day you stay close to base, do a loop around the lake, pull up at a beach and head back via the Voorhaven. On calm days the water is flat as a mirror.
Checklist
0 of 6
Reservering bevestigd
ID-bewijs voor de borg
Zwemkleding en handdoek
Drinkwater per persoon
Zonnebrand en pet
Waterdichte hoes voor telefoon
Handy & partners
Some links may earn us a small commission. It costs you nothing extra.
Reserve a motorboat with one of the rental companies at de Hatenboer in Roermond, and go electric if peace and quiet matter to you.
Go through the briefing at the jetty, and specifically ask about the difference between the recreational boating zones and the through-traffic Maas waterway.
Head through the Voorhaven onto the Hatenboerplas, and stay clear of the western shore where swimmers often do laps.
Pull up at one of the shallow beaches for a quick swimming stop, using the small anchor from the boat or the mooring posts.
Make your way back to the marina along the southern side of the lake, and give other boats plenty of room at narrow passages.
Return the boat a quarter of an hour before your rental period ends, which saves you from being charged an extension fee.
Related playbooks
Renting a boat without a licence on the Canal du Midi
Glide between plane trees and locks on the Canal du Midi, aboard an electric or diesel boat with no licence required, for a day trip departing from Capestang or Homps.
Learning to sail on the Loosdrechtse Plassen for beginners
A half-day or full-day sailing lesson on the Loosdrechtse Plassen for beginners, with an instructor or as part of a group course at a sailing school.
Renting a Boat on Chiemsee Without a Boat License
A day out on Bavaria's Chiemsee, no boat license required, in an electric boat or rowboat. With views of Herreninsel and Fraueninsel, you can take it easy and enjoy the lake.
Renting a Boat on Volendam and Edam
A day sailing between the stilt village of Marken, the harbour of Volendam, and the old quaysides of Edam. Quiet engine, wide skies, four fixed stops.
Rent a sloop on the Vechtplassen
A day of boating through the Oostelijke Vechtplassen past Vreeland, Loenen and kasteel Nijenrode. Sloop without a boating licence, from 200 euros per half-day.
Renting a motorboat in Maastricht for a full day
A full day on the water from Maastricht along the Maas, with a lunch stop in Eijsden or a trip towards Borgharen and the Belgian border.
Renting a sloop on the Zoetermeer lakes
A day out on the Zoetermeerse Plas and the Noord Aa in an open sloop with no boating licence required. What it costs, where to board and which route suits you.
Renting a Motorboat on the Vinkeveense Plassen
A day out on the Vinkeveense Plassen between Amsterdam and Utrecht, with crystal-clear sandy islands and swimming spots. Motorboat without a licence, from 250 euros per day.
Renting a sloop on the Vinkeveense Plassen for half a day
Three to four hours of self-skippered sailing on clear open water, with a short swimming stop at a sandy islet and plenty of time for a terrace or picnic on board.
Cargo Bike Day Out in Amsterdam
With two kids up front, looping through the city. Vondelpark, a playground at Westergas, lunch at a terrace where the cargo bike actually fits.
Renting a sloop on the Amstel
A day trip along the Amstel from Amsterdam to Ouderkerk in an open sloop with no boating licence required. What it costs, how to book, and what you'll see along the way.
Rent a boat on the Maasplassen in Limburg
A full day of boating across the Maasplassen near Roermond and Maasbracht, with stops at beaches and waterside restaurants along the way.
For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Book before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. if you can, so you avoid the midday rush.
- Ask whether the boat has a Bluetooth speaker; if not, bring your own.
- When wind exceeds force 4, the western shore often closes off, so plan for the eastern side of the lake.
- Half a day is enough for one lake; exploring more lakes calls for a full day.
Variations
- - Maak er een avondvaart van met meegebrachte tapas en zonsondergang op de plas.
- - Combineer met een wandeling op de Maasbrugger heuvel als kort stuk land.
- - Kies in voor- of najaar voor een sloep met kap en verwarmingsdekens.
by PlayTryBe team