Route 9001
9 days
Alkmaar - Zaanse Schans - Keukenhof

Woubrugge – Amsterdam – Monnickendam/Edam – De Rijp – Alkmaar – Zaandam – Haarlem – Lisse – (Leiden -) – Woubrugge

Visit De Rijp with its beautifully restored seventeenth-century houses. And Alkmaar with more than 400 monuments where you can moor in the historic center. Time stands still at the Zaanse Schans. With working windmills, the traditional Zaanse wooden houses, cheese and clog factories. Then it is also possible to visit Keukenhof.

Day 1
(3 hours sailing)

Today you will sail across the Braassemermeer, the Drecht and the whimsical meanders of the Amstel to Uithoorn. At the quay you will find some restaurants and shops. Around Uithoorn are several forts that were part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam.

For beginners we recommend sailing towards Amsterdam via the Braassemermeer, the Westeinder Plassen, Nieuw Meer and the Schinkel of Kostverlorenvaart. You can then spend the night on the Westeinder Plassen or Aalsmeer.

Day 2
(3 hours sailing)

Today you continue on the Amstel to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is a bustling city with the canal belt, canal houses, a rich cultural offer, beautiful architecture and a special history. Enjoy the nightlife and museums here.

Experience Amsterdam by walking along the canal belt and beautiful canal houses. Enjoy the rich cultural offer and the special history through various museums such as: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Anne Frank House and the Hermitage Amsterdam.

Recommended port is the Sixhaven. The Sixhaven has a unique connection to the center of Amsterdam due to the proximity of two mooring points for free ferries to Amsterdam Central Station, both about a 5-minute walk away. The ferry crossing to the center of Amsterdam takes about 5 minutes. The ferries sail very frequently day and night.

Day 3
(5 hours sailing)

From the Sixhaven in Amsterdam you can enter the Noordhollands Kanaal and then on the Trekvaart Het Schouw along Broek in Waterland to Monnickendam. It is not permitted to sail into or out of Monnickendam or Edam over the IJsselmeer/Markermeer because of the insurance.

Coming from the inland waterways you first have to go through one or both locks to get to the marinas of Monnickendam. In the center is the municipal harbor consisting of various quays. If you are looking for fun then it is worth trying to get a place in the municipal harbour. However, this will not always work because it is often very busy. Our advice is to spend the night in Edam or Purmerend.

From Monnickendam it is about 2 hours sailing to Edam via the Purmer Ee and the Purmerringvaart.

In the inner harbor of Edam you can enjoy a wonderful stay right in the center of beautiful Edam. Places of interest such as the Cheese Market and the historic center of Edam are only a few minutes’ walk from your mooring. You can moor at the Nieuwehaven or at the Klein Westerbuiten.

Day 4
(4 hours sailing)

Today you will sail from Edam for about 1.5 hours on the Purmerringvaart towards Purmerend. Purmerend is a charming city with 30 national and 127 municipal monuments. An important place in the town is the Koemarkt. Throughout the centuries there was plenty of trade here. Now it is a pleasant car-free square with a variety of cafes and restaurants. Purmerend unites the beauty of the past with the pleasures of modern life. http://www.vvvpurmerend.nl/

From Purmerend you will sail for about 1.5 hours on the Noordhollandsch Kanaal and the Beemster Ringvaart to De Rijp where you can spend the night.

If you walk through De Rijp and see the beautifully restored houses from the seventeenth century, you will understand why Jan Adriaanszn. Leeghwater called this ‘the best village in Holland’. On your walk you can taste the bygone times. The Town Hall with the Waag, the Grote Kerk, the farms and the wooden houses still look the same as they did back then. Guides are happy to tell you about the Rijper Glazen, the Van der Heyden fire hose and the Herring and Walvis trade. Discover the nature reserve the Eilandspolder while walking, cycling, rollerblading or sailing.

In De Rijp you can spend the night at the marina of Watersportvereniging Eilandspolder, a small cozy harbor fully equipped.

You can also consider sailing to Alkmaar and spend the night there.

Day 5
(2 hours sailing)

From De Rijp you can sail to Alkmaar in about 2 hours. Here you sail back a little on the Beemsterringvaart over the Vinkenhop to the Alkmaardermeer. If you continue sailing along the Kogerpolderkanaal (along the Alkmaardermeer), you will automatically reach the Noordhollandsch Kanaal to Alkmaar.

Alkmaar is historic, with over 400 monuments. The Waag, in its most original form from the 14th century, the 16th century Town Hall, the Grote St. Laurenskerk and the many courtyards, facades and canals give the city a special appearance.

You can moor your boat in the historic center, near the cheese market, terraces, shops, restaurants, cinema, museums and much more. Now that is a wonderful boating holiday!

The Bierkade (near the Accijnstoren) is the reporting quay for all boats arriving in Alkmaar. After consultation with the harbor master you will be assigned a berth in the center of Alkmaar. You can also reach the harbor master of Alkmaar by telephone on +31725200014.

Day 6
(2 hours sailing)

Today you can sail to the Zaanse Schans where time stands still. With working windmills, the traditional Zaan wooden houses, cheese and clog factories, a beautiful Zaans Museum and Verkade Pavilion. A rich past in a beautiful neighborhood on the Zaan.

From Alkmaar you sail back over the Noordhollandsch Kanaal to the Alkmaardermeer. You cross the Alkmaardermeer between the buoys to the Wijde Stierop. Continuing on the Markervaart and Zaan you will automatically pass the ‘Zaanse Schans’.

There are 2 public piers at the ‘Zaanse Schans’. To visit the ‘Zaanse Schans’ you can choose from two free moorings or the marina of sailing club ‘De Onderlinge’. If you prefer to spend the night in ‘Zaandam’ itself, you can sail a little further and moor at 1 of the moorings or harbor at the Beatrix Bridge.

Day 7
(2.5 hours sailing)

Today you can be in Haarlem in about 2.5 hours. You sail down the Zaan and the Voorzaan to the Noordzeekanaal. You then sail down the Noordzeekanaal in the direction of Haarlem. Stay right sailing! And pay close attention to commercial shipping in front of and behind you. At side channel C, turn off the Noordzeekanaal to Spaarndam.

Sailing further on the Noorder Buiten Spaarne you sail into the center of Haarlem where there are various moorings. Discover the city, which is known for its high-quality cultural offer, the great diversity of shops, cozy restaurants and cafes and the excellent location near Amsterdam, the beach and the sea. A city with a rich history, beautiful monuments and a Burgundian atmosphere.

Day 8
(1.5 hours sailing)

By sailing a short distance on the Spaarne and then continuing on the Ringvaart van de Haarlemmermeerpolder, you will arrive in Lisse. In Lisse you can view the Keukenhof.

Keukenhof is the international and independent showcase of Dutch floriculture, with an emphasis on bulb flowers. In eight weeks Keukenhof shows what Dutch floriculture has to offer. In the park, the emphasis is on the 7 million spring-flowering flower bulbs, with 100 exhibitors showing their living catalogue. In more than 20 flower shows, 500 flower growers present cut flowers and potted plants in all their variety.

An ideal harbor close to the Keukenhof is Watersportvereniging Lisse. Bus 50 or Q-liner 361 will take you to Keukenhof in about half an hour.

Alternative: From Leiden you can also visit Keukenhof with the Keukenhof Express. Sail on the Braassemermeer and the Kagerplassen and enjoy the many windmills in the landscape that can be clearly seen from the water. In the evening you can enjoy the terraces and nightlife in the center of Leiden. From Haarlem it is about 3 hours by boat to Leiden.

Day 9
(3 hours sailing)

Today you will sail back to home base Woubrugge. Through the Kagerplassen and Braassemermeer.
Alternative from Leiden: You sail on the Oude Rijn back to the home base in Woubrugge.