2021 Facts and Figures
This year has been a strange one – the many and various COVID19 restrictions/lockdowns meant there was very little traffic on the waterways at the beginning of the season (although that gradually increased as the months went by) and equally on the plus side of that, there was the peace and quiet of lots of locations and the ease that we had in finding a mooring just about everywhere we stopped. However, it did mean that towns were very bleak with only food stores open, cafes and restaurants closed except for maybe takeaways, and those people who did venture out were covered up with masks etc and having to walk on the righthand side of walkways whilst keeping the required distance apart. As time went on, people became more savvy and vaccination programmes kicked off, and things eased off considerably so by the end of the September we were almost back to normal.
Areas, towns and villages: Once again, this is our list of places visited during the year – we may have missed a few, but it’s more or less complete. This time we’ve arranged it by region, so there is no rhyme or reason as to the order/dates visited.
Flevoland – Harderwijk, Elburg, Ketelhaven, Genemuiden, Zwartsluis, Blokzijl, Beaulaker Wijde, Eiland Pierland, Eiland De Ral, Kalenberger, De Hoop.
Friesland – Lemmer, Franeker, Leeuwarden, Dokkum, Sloten, Woudsend, Sneek, Bolsward, Workum, Makkum, Joure, Terherne, Akkrum, Alde Feanen, Echtenerbrug, Ijlst, Eiland Marchpole, Eiland Lytse Griene, Freigerzen, Jansloot area, Stroobos, Kollum, Burdaard, Parrega. And over and above all these were the many, many Marrekrite moorings that we stopped at throughout the national parks.
South Holland – Gouda, Ijsselstein, Alphen a/d Rijn, Oude Kerk.
Central Netherlands – Weesp, Utrecht, Oud Zuilen, Loenen, Maarssen, Kampen.
North Holland – Medemblik, Middenmeer, Nieuwesluis, Edam, Hoorn, Enkhuizen, Den Helder.
Groningen & Drenthe – Zoutkamp, Groningen, Delfzijl, Appingedam, Schildmeer, Termunterzijl, Winschoten, Veendam, Nieuweschans, Stadskanaal.
By our reckoning that’s in excess of 58 places, and over and above those places, here are just some of the waterways we’ve traversed during the six months travelling (we know some probably haven’t made the list, but it’s hard to keep track sometimes).
Randmeren (including Wolderwijd, Drontermeer, Ketlemeer, Zwartwater); Wetering (Overijssel); Walengracht/Beulaker Wijkde; Kalenbergergracht; Hoge Vaart; Eemskanaal; Waddenzee; Dollard; Veluwemeer; Linde river; Ijsselmeer; Westerwoldse Aa; Van Harinxmakanaal; Dokkumer Ee; Sneekermeer; canals around Sneek; Langweerderwielen/Scharsterbrug canal; canals around Makkum, Workum and Woudsend; Prinses Margrietkanaal; canals through Leeuwarden; Slotermeer; Ee; Woudvaart; Bolswardervaart; canals around Akkrum; Princenhof; Tjeukemeer; Geeuw; Van Startkenborgh kanaal; Lauwersmeer; Workumertrekvaart; Reitdiep; canals around Groningen; Winschoterdiep; Ooserdiep; Standskanaal; Vecht; canals around Gouda; Oude Rijn; Amstel; Wieringermeerpolder; Waardkanaal; Hollandse Ijssel; Van Ewijksvaart (Ijsselmeer).
Time on the water : We began our journeying on 29th March, with a reading of 879 engine hours, ending on our final day (30th September) at 1059 engine hours – a grand motoring time of 180 hours over 26 weeks and 3 days (185 days).
Costs : Moorings in the Friesland area were free if we purchased and displayed a 20 euro banner for the boat (which obviously we did). Overall the mooring fees this year (including the banner) stand at c. 1,311.83 euros, an increase from last year of just over 50% (2020 = c. 850 euros). However, as at time of printing we are still waiting for a few more charges to come through so it will be higher. Also to be added to that will be the final charge for wintering in Harderwijk 2021/22.
