Renting a Motorboat on the Nederrijn near Arnhem in Half a Day
4 h€ 90-150 Calm
Rent a motorboat at the Rijnkade and spend three hours cruising past Stadsblokken-Meinerswijk and under the John Frostbrug, with a short coffee stop along the way.
The Nederrijn feels calmer near Arnhem than most people expect. From the Rijnkade, half a day is all you need to complete a loop that runs along the nature reserve Stadsblokken-Meinerswijk and passes under the John Frostbrug. The main channel is still used by commercial shipping, so most boat rental companies steer you toward the adjacent side channels and the Meinerswijk bank, where the pace is slower and the shore is lined with willows and gravel beaches.
Halfway through, a short stop fits in nicely: tie up on the north bank, grab a sandwich from your bag, or find a terrace at the Nieuwe Kade. Then head back upstream, with a little more throttle and more time to take in the scenery. Three hours follows a steady rhythm: instructions, sailing, stopping, sailing, cleaning up. If you share the helm, swap the roles of skipper and navigator at the halfway point.
Checklist
0 of 6
ID en vaarbewijs paraat
Zonnebrand en zonnebril
Drinkwater per persoon
Lichte jas of windstopper
Snacks of broodje
Waterdichte zak voor telefoon
Pack your ID and boating licence if needed (required above 20 km/h or from 15 metres in length).
Book the motorboat for a three-hour slot with a rental company at the Rijnkade or Nieuwe Kade.
Cruise past Stadsblokken-Meinerswijk and keep a wide distance from commercial shipping in the main channel.
Moor on the north bank and take a twenty-minute break with coffee or a sandwich from your bag.
Head back under the John Frostbrug and return the motorboat strictly on time.
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For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Go on a weekday morning, when the main channel is quieter.
- Bring a windbreaker, as the Nederrijn is often windier than the city.
- Agree in advance on who is skipper and swap halfway through.
- Keep your rental company reachable for bridge or lock updates.
- Factor in a fuel surcharge if you go over the daily allowance.
Variations
- - Combineer met een lunch op terras Nieuwe Kade na inlevertijd.
- - Maak er een gezinsuitje van en huur zwemvesten in alle maten mee.
- - Vaar in de avond met lampjes aan boord, vanaf zonsondergang anderhalf uur.
- - Boek een schipper erbij als niemand vaarervaring heeft.
by PlayTryBe team