Rent a Rowing Boat on the Wieden
8 h€ 150-300 Calm
A day of boating across the Beulakerwijde and Belterwijde in Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden, with an open rowing boat from Belt-Schutsloot or Sint Jansklooster. No boating licence required.
The Wieden lies directly south of Giethoorn and is considerably quieter on the water. It is a patchwork of lakes, canals and reed beds, with the Beulakerwijde and Belterwijde as large open stretches in the middle. Rental operators are based in Belt-Schutsloot and near Sint Jansklooster. A full day gives you plenty of time to explore both lakes, perhaps loop through the canal towards Blokzijl and stop off at a waterside terrace along the way.
No boating licence is needed for a boat up to 15 metres travelling no faster than 20 km/h. Bear in mind that the open lakes can get windy, and conditions in autumn can be quite challenging. Child-friendly and dog-friendly, as long as there is a life jacket on board. In rainy weather, canopied boats and whisper boats with a cabin work perfectly well.
Checklist
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Sloep vooraf reserveren
Vaarkaart Wieden meenemen
Lunch en water mee
Zonnebrand en pet mee
Regenjas in tas
Zwemvest voor kinderen
Telefoon opgeladen
Reserve an open rowing boat or whisper boat with a rental operator in Belt-Schutsloot or Sint Jansklooster and let them know your departure time.
Ask during the briefing for a navigation map of Weerribben-Wieden and mark your mooring spots in advance.
Spend the first hour sailing across the Beulakerwijde heading north, and stay in the shelter of the reeds if it is windy.
Make a stop at a small nature island or moor up in Blokzijl for a drink on a terrace and a short walk around town.
Head back via the Belterwijde or through a reed canal for a different perspective than the outward journey.
Return the boat clean and on time, and fill in the logbook with the miles covered and any notable moments.
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For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Set off between 9 and 10 in the morning for the most time on the water and gentle winds.
- Avoid the northern side of the Beulakerwijde in a strong south-westerly, as it can get choppy there.
- Keep your speed low in the reed canals to avoid disturbing the birds.
- Book a table in Blokzijl if you want to have lunch there, as it gets busy during the season.
- Bring extra warm clothing, as the difference between sun and shade out on the water is significant.
Variations
- - Kies een open sloep bij rustig weer en een huifsloep bij regen.
- - Verleng met een overnachting in Blokzijl en vaar de volgende dag terug.
- - Combineer met een fietsroute langs de Wieden voor wie liever afwisselt.
- - Vraag een schipper mee voor wie geen ervaring heeft met zelf varen.
- - Vaar in de avond met zonsondergang als hoogtepunt boven het riet.
by PlayTryBe team