IF YOU ARE travelling northward through the Rhine delta area, there is no exit to the sea from the Grevelingenmeer so you will need to proceed up to the Haringvliet or the Oude Maas to regain coastal waters. If you have diverted into the Grevelingenmeer then return through the Grevelingensluis, otherwise approach the Krammersluizen up the main drag of the Keeten Mastgat Zijpe. As you come up to the locks, eschew the big commercial lock in favour of the smaller one to its left which in summer is used for recreational traffic and whose approach channel is marked by K-Sport buoys.

Once through, the rather pretty Volkerak leads you up to another set of locks (again the lock for recreational craft is on the north-west side) where you emerge into Hollandsch Diep. For the Haringvliet and the sea, turn left for the Haringvlietbrug which has an opening span at the northern end (similar considerations apply to those relating to the Zeelandbrug across the Oosterschelde—see St Annaland).

Alternatively turn right for the delightful Willemstad which is close by on the southern shore of Hollandsch Diep. The entrance is marked by the starboard-hand buoy HD 9A, and once through the short entrance channel, turn to port past the harbourmaster’s office and see what you can find. Space is limited and the town is popular so you will almost certainly have to raft up, but do not despair: we arrived there late one evening in July and still found somewhere to squeeze into.

The town which was built as a fortress to guard Hollandsch Diep towards the end of the sixteenth century is surrounded by a star shaped moat and is geometrically laid out with tree-lined streets and many attractive old buildings. Most of the action is around the inner harbour where there are a number of restaurants, often crowded but generally able to fit you in so long as you aren’t in a hurry.

© 2008 Yachtpilot.