Southwest Friesland | Sailing route
Sailing a long weekend outside the high season? An excellent idea: this passage route lets you experience a large part of south-west Friesland in just a few days.
Rent a boat in Friesland
Don't have a boat of your own? Even outside the high season, you can easily rent a boat in Friesland. This route can also be taken by boaters without a boating licence. You will receive good boating instructions from the rental company at the start.
Duration of this route
This route can be done in autumn, winter or early spring with a motor yacht or sailing boat with heating on board. Assuming you cruise at about 9 km per hour, you should be able to cover the route in 3/4 days. Take it easy, stay overnight at the most beautiful places in South-West Friesland and moor regularly to enjoy sightseeing ashore.…
Sailing a long weekend outside the high season? An excellent idea: this passage route lets you experience a large part of south-west Friesland in just a few days.
Rent a boat in Friesland
Don't have a boat of your own? Even outside the high season, you can easily rent a boat in Friesland. This route can also be taken by boaters without a boating licence. You will receive good boating instructions from the rental company at the start.
Duration of this route
This route can be done in autumn, winter or early spring with a motor yacht or sailing boat with heating on board. Assuming you cruise at about 9 km per hour, you should be able to cover the route in 3/4 days. Take it easy, stay overnight at the most beautiful places in South-West Friesland and moor regularly to enjoy sightseeing ashore.
Bridge operation out of season
There are a number of high bridges and aqueducts on this route that you can sail past without fail. But there are also a few lower bridges in the route and these are not operated as a matter of course in the autumn and winter periods, you have to call (call out) first.
Calling bridges
To open other low bridges, call 058-2925888 at least 2 hours in advance. (Please note that the phone number is not available on weekends, so call firmly before 4pm on Friday for Saturday or Monday morning - most bridges are not operated on Sundays).
Free moorings in the countryside
You regularly have the water all to yourself, so that will be a relaxing cruise! You can spend the night at a secluded Marrekrite mooring. In the middle of nature, there are jetties and buoys where you can moor for free for a few nights. Here it is fantastic stargazing...! And do you need electricity, sanitation, fuel or water? Then opt for a marina.
Where to dispose of your waste
During the winter period, you won't find many rubbish containers along the way, so just keep your rubbish on board. And do you come across litter somewhere in nature? Will you take it with you? The birds and fish will thank you!
Read the 3-day programme here for more tips and inspiration.
We wish you lots of boating fun on the peaceful Frisian lakes!
Sights on this route
Grou
Grou is a touristy yet characteristic watersports village in the heart of Friesland with a lively center.
Pikmar
Het Pikmeer, officieel Pikmar, is een van de Friese meren. De start van het SKS Skûtsjesylen vindt hier plaats. Het meer ligt aan het dorp Grou en wordt ten oosten begrenst door het eiland de Burd.
Mid-Fryslân Aqueduct
Near Grou, you will find the Mid-Fryslân aqueduct: an aqueduct at the intersection of the A32 motorway and the Prinses Margriet Canal.
Grou railway bridge
If you sail between Grou and Terherne, you will come across the Grou railway bridge. This movable railway bridge crosses the Prinses Margriet Canal and is located on the Zwolle–Leeuwarden railway line.
Aldskou Bridge (Old Schouw)
When sailing between Grou and Terherne, you will pass the Aldskou Bridge (Oude Schouw). This bridge spans the Prinses Margriet Canal between Jirnsum and Akkrum.
Terherne Lock
The Terherne Lock is located in the Princess Margriet Canal and connects the Sneekermeer with the Terhornstermeer. It is no longer in use and the passage is always open to shipping.
Sneekermeer
The Sneekermeer (Frisian and official: Snitser Mar) is, of course, known for the Sneekweek, the annual sailing races held on this lake.
Kolmeersland Starteiland Sneekermeer
Just outside Sneek, in the Sneekermeer, lies Kolmeersland, also known as Starteiland, which is best known for the sailing races during Sneekweek and skûtsjesilen. You can moor at one of the marinas around the island.
Kolmeersland Starteiland Sneekermeer
Kolmeersland Starteiland Sneekermeer
Starteiland
komeerlan 1
8626 GD Offingawier
Brug Uitwellingerga
Als je door het Prinses Margrietkanaal vaart, kom je deze hoge brug bij Uitwellingerga tegen. Vanwege de hoogte van meer dan 7 meter, kunnen de meeste watersporters er gewoon onderdoor varen. Let op: de brug wordt op dit moment niet bediend voor de scheepvaart!
Princess Margriet Tunnel Aqueduct
The Princess Margriet Tunnel near Uitwellingerga, close to Sneek, is an aqueduct that also functions as a road tunnel and runs under the Princess Margriet Canal. It forms part of the A7 motorway and connects the Sneekermeer lake with the Aldhôf via the Modderige Geau and the Sânepoel.
Aldhôf
The Aldhôf is a lake southeast of Sneek, bisected by the Princess Margriet Canal. It is located in the Witte en Zwarte Brekken nature reserve.
Aanlegsteiger SN52A
Een aanlegsteiger aan een onbewoond eilandje in het Aldhôf (Oudhof): een watertje ten zuiden van Sneek.
Jeltesleat Akwadukt
When sailing through the Jeltesloot near Hommerts, you will eventually cross the N354, using the aqueduct through the Jeltesloot.
Woudsend (Wâldsein)
Woudsend is a village nestled between Lake Heegermeer and Lake Slotermeer.
Hellingbrêge Woudsend
If you sail or drive through the beautiful center of Woudsend, you will undoubtedly come across the high Hellingbrêge.
Ie Akwadukt
South of Woudsend, since 2007, you can find the Ie Aqueduct: an aqueduct at the intersection of the river De Ie and the N928.
Slotermeer (Sleattemer Mar)
The Sleattemer Mar (also known as the Slotermeer) is situated between the three towns of Sloten, Balk, and Woudsend.
Sloten (Sleat)
Sloten (or Sleat as we say in Friesland) is the smallest Elfsteden town in Friesland. This walled mini-city is also called sipelstêd (Frisian for onion city) thanks to the unique shape of an onion.
Nieuwe Langebrug Sloten
Vaar je over de Easterbûtengrêft, het water aan de oostelijke zijde van het Elfstedenstadje Sloten, dan kom je vanzelf de Nieuwe Langebrug tegen.
Brandemar
The Brandemar is a lake south of Sloten and is connected to the Groote Brekken and the Ee.
Groote Brekken
The Groote Brekken (Frisian: de Grutte Brekken) is also referred to as Lemster Brekken.
Follegabrug
Daar waar de Straatweg in Follega en de Follegeasleat elkaar kruisen, vind je de Follegabrug. De Follegeasleat verbindt de Groote Brekken met de Tsjûkemar.
Tjeukemeerbrug
De Tjeukemeerbrug is een hoge brug in de snelweg A6, hij brengt je over het grootste binnenwater Friesland.
Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)
The Tjeukemeer is the largest inland lake in Friesland.
Scharsterrijnbrug
The Scharsterrijnbrug is located on the A6 motorway, just before the Joure interchange. Due to the busy nature of this highway, the bridge is only open for 1 minute every half hour.
Brug Scharsterbrug
In het dorp Scharsterbrug draait alles om de brug! Niet alleen in de dorpsnaam, het dorpje wordt daadwerkelijk in tweeën gedeeld door het water van de Scharster Rien.
Langweerder Wielen (Langwarder Wielen)
The Langweerder Wielen is located to the west of Joure.
Langweer
Langweer is a true watersports destination. From this centrally located village in the Frisian lake area, you can sail in all directions.
Brug Noorder Oudeweg
De Noorder Oudeweg is geen weg voor automobilisten, maar een waterweg! Deze waterweg verbindt de Langweerder Wielen met het meertje de Alde Wei bij Broek.
Goaiingarypster Puollen
The Goingarijpster Puollen is connected to the Sneekermeer at multiple locations.
Sâltpoel
The Sâltpoel near Terherne borders the Goingarijpsterpoelen and the Sneekermeer and is connected to the Terkaplesterpoelen. It was created by ancient salt extraction and is part of the Natura 2000 area.
Terherne
Terherne is known as the Kameleon village and is an island in the Sneekermeer. On one side, you'll find the lake, and on the other side, the Terhernster ponds.
Nije Sânsleatbrêge Terherne
Terherne is een dorpje dat middenin het Friese water gelegen is, onder andere de Nije Sânsleatbrêge verbindt deze plaats met de vaste wal.
Meinesloot Bridge Akkrum
This bridge on the Ljouwerterdyk in Akkrum connects the water sports villages of Akkrum and Jirnsum. It is a crossing point for traffic, while for shipping it forms the route between the Boarn, the Meinesleat and the Kromme Knilles.
Akkrum
Akkrum is a charming watersports village in the heart of the Frisian lake district, near the National Park De Alde Feanen.
Weidlânsbrêge Akkrum
The Weidlânsbrêge, better known as the Leppedijk Bridge, is a drawbridge over the Boarn in Akkrum. If you sail from Akkrum to Grou or drive along the winding dyke road Leppedyk, you will come across this bridge.
Akkrum railway bridge
The railway bridge in Akkrum is located at the intersection with the Zwolle–Leeuwarden railway line and spans the Boarn river. You will encounter the bridge when sailing from Akkrum to Grou or Aldeboarn.
Leppa Aqueduct
The Leppa aqueduct is part of the A32 motorway near Akkrum, where the motorway passes under the River Boarn. The aqueduct allows you to sail from Terherne and Akkrum to Grou via the Boarn, for example.
Aanlegplaatsen It Gearstalt Akkrum
Vlakbij de spoorbrug, dicht in de buurt van het centrum van Akkrum, is er een passantenkade.
Peanster Ie
The Peanster Ie is a lake located near Grou, bordering the Pikmar and the Burstumerrak.
