Never been sailing? / FAQ
You enjoy vacationing in the Netherlands
Usually, you stay on dry land and rent a vacation home or a mobile home, for example. But why haven’t you ever taken a boating vacation? Maybe you’ve never thought about it before, or you assume you need a boating license.
We’d love to tell you how much fun a boating vacation is, the freedom it offers, and what amenities are available on board.
How much fun is a boating vacation?
If you love:
– beautiful nature
– picturesque towns
– cozy evenings on board
– delicious dining out
– the freedom to go wherever you want
then chances are you’ll enjoy a boating vacation. Are you the athletic type? Then you can swim to your heart’s content in the summer. All year round, you can go hiking or biking (folding bikes are available for rent from us).
Will my partner enjoy it too?
We’ve noticed that among our first-time renters, it’s mainly the men who are looking forward to a boating vacation. They can already picture themselves at the helm. Into the marina, under the little bridge, or through the lock. But women—when given the chance—often turn out to be better at sailing and, what’s more, really enjoy steering the yacht through narrow waterways and mooring at their destination.
Will my kids enjoy it?
If you involve your children in the boating experience, tell them about the natural surroundings you’re sailing through, and take frequent trips to the beautiful places where you dock, you’ll find that they really enjoy their boating vacation. In the summer, they can, of course, go swimming during the day, and in the evening after dinner, you can have some good old-fashioned fun with them if you bring along some board games.
I have no experience—is that a problem?
That’s no problem. You can book a boating course when you make your reservation at
. This boating course on the first day of your boating vacation is mandatory for beginners.
I don’t have a boating license either—is that a problem?
No, you do not need a boating license to operate our boats. However, this requirement does apply to boats longer than 15 meters and boats that travel faster than 20 km per hour.
Isn’t boating scary?
It takes a little while to get used to the yacht—how it responds to your actions and to external factors like the wind. Fortunately, you’ll have plenty of time to get used to it on the water, since you’ll be traveling at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour. And that’s a lot slower than your car. Besides, you haven’t been afraid of driving a car for a long time now.
Where can I sail to?
Friesland has an extensive network of lakes, canals, and small rivers. You can easily spend weeks boating in Friesland. But you can also visit beautiful North Overijssel (Giethoorn, Zwartsluis, Kampen, Zwolle), Groningen (Lauwersmeer, Zoutkamp, the city of Groningen), and the Noordoostpolder (Emmeloord, Urk).
What routes are available?
The best-known route is the Frisian Lakes Route, but there are many other routes to choose from. The most fun is to plan your own itinerary. You’ll receive ANWB nautical charts on board, which show water depths and bridge heights. In the “logbook,” you’ll find the height and draft of your yacht. This makes it easy to know where you can and cannot sail. Of course, we’re happy to advise you. Be sure to check out Vaarroutes for an overview of sailing routes in the area.
How do I find a berth?
On board, you’ll find nautical charts from the ANWB. These charts show the mooring spots. There are two types of mooring spots.
Marinas: Many marinas have spots for visiting boats. For an overnight stay in a marina, you pay approximately €1.50 per meter of boat length per night. You also pay a small fee per person.
Mooring spots: The mooring spots are also marked on the nautical chart. These spots are often located along the quay near a village, but also out in the open countryside! You usually pay a fee for the first few spots. In the province of Friesland, there are 250 different locations in the great outdoors where you can stay overnight for free—the so-called “Marrekrite” sites. Of course, you won’t have the facilities that a marina offers here, but you can enjoy the peace and quiet and the beauty of nature.
What happens if I accidentally cause damage while sailing?
Our boats are covered by all-risk insurance for navigation on Dutch inland waterways, with a deductible equal to the security deposit. As long as you follow the rules, navigate calmly, and consult with your fellow passengers about where and how you want to moor, very little can go wrong. There are many “fenders” on board—these are protective cushions. If you make sure these are in the right place while mooring, very little can go wrong.
In the unlikely event that you do cause damage, please report it to us immediately and do not wait until you return to our harbor.
What amenities are available on board?
Our boats are fully equipped; click on the Inventory List for an overview. Of course, every yacht has a refrigerator with a small freezer on board. Cooking for yourself is no problem—every yacht has a gas stove. If you prefer to sleep in your own bedding, we recommend that you bring it with you. For a fee of €22.50, you can rent clean bedding from us.
What do I need to bring myself?
Groceries: You can bring your own daily groceries or buy them in Terherne before you leave. Of course, you can also decide to go ashore a few times along the way to do some shopping.
Bedding: You can rent bedding (duvet, pillow, and sheet set) from us for €22.50 per person.
Board games & books: of course, only if you like them.
Cash: If you stay overnight at marinas, you’ll pay approximately €1.50 per meter. You’ll need small change to pay bridge tolls. The amount depends on the route you take. Be sure to have about €10 in small change with you. If a fee is required, it will be posted on the bridge. You pay the bridge toll as you pass under the bridge. The bridge operator has a kind of fishing rod with a small block attached to it. If your travel companion is standing outside while you slowly sail through the bridge, the bridge operator will cast the small block, and your travel companion can pay the toll.
What about the restroom facilities on board?
Every motor yacht is equipped with an electric toilet. Check the specifications of the yacht of your choice to see if it has a shower. Please note that not all showers are the same size. At many marinas, you can use the restroom facilities for a small fee.
Can I plug in electronic devices on board?
All motor yachts have a continuous 220V power supply on board, but some of the vessels have a small 350W inverter (see specifications for each vessel). This means that high-power appliances (coffee makers, hair dryers) cannot be plugged into it. It is, however, more than sufficient for laptops, phones, cameras, etc.
At many berths, you can use a shore power connection for a small fee. We’ll tell you where to find the cable and how to connect it. Then you’ll also be able to plug in more power-hungry appliances.
Do's & Don'ts
Any other questions?
We hope that the information above has answered any questions you may have and that it has inspired you to go on your first boating vacation. If you have any other questions or would like to rent a yacht, please email us at yachtcharterwetterwille@gmail.com or fill out our contact form.
Be sure to check out the Knowledge Base, the Travel Reports, and photos from our guests, or go directly to our overview of motorboats:
Downloads: Water Sports Brochure: Tips for Boating on Frisian Waters.
Water Safety Guide: Tips for Safe Boating Together.