Southwest Friesland | Sailing route
Boating outside the high season? An excellent idea: this water route lets you experience a large part of Southwest Friesland in just a few days.
You start in Terherne and sail across the Sneekermeer, past Sneek’s Starteiland, to the watersport villages of Heeg and Woudsend. In summer they’re lively and full of energy. In winter they’re wonderfully peaceful. Via the Slotermeer you reach Sloten, the smallest of the Frisian Eleven Cities. Take a stroll through this open-air museum, visit the fountain and enjoy a good meal or pick up a few groceries at the small local supermarket.
After this mini city trip, continue via th…
Boating outside the high season? An excellent idea: this water route lets you experience a large part of Southwest Friesland in just a few days.
You start in Terherne and sail across the Sneekermeer, past Sneek’s Starteiland, to the watersport villages of Heeg and Woudsend. In summer they’re lively and full of energy. In winter they’re wonderfully peaceful. Via the Slotermeer you reach Sloten, the smallest of the Frisian Eleven Cities. Take a stroll through this open-air museum, visit the fountain and enjoy a good meal or pick up a few groceries at the small local supermarket.
After this mini city trip, continue via the Brandemar and the Grutte Brekken to the large Tsjûkemar. Then you reach the Langweerder Wielen, turn starboard, and sail over the A7. From Terherne you head north toward Grou. After that, return to Terherne via Akkrum.
Of course, you can decide for yourself where to start the route.
Boat rental in Friesland
Don’t have your own boat? Even outside the high season you can rent a boat in Friesland. This route can also be done without a boating license. At the start you’ll receive clear sailing instructions from the rental company.
Duration of the route
This route is ideal in autumn, winter or early spring with a motor yacht or sailing boat that has heating on board. If you travel at about 9 km per hour, you can complete the route in three to four days. Take your time, spend the night at the most beautiful spots in Southwest Friesland and make regular stops to enjoy sightseeing on land.
Bridge operation outside the high season
There are several high bridges and aqueducts along this route that you can easily pass under. But there are also some lower bridges that are not operated automatically during the autumn and winter months. You’ll need to call ahead so that they can be opened on request. Note: bridges are not operated on Sundays and public holidays.
From Monday to Friday between 8:00 and 16:00 you can call +31 (0)58-29 25 888 to request bridge and lock operation. To avoid long waits, it’s best to call at least a day in advance. The phone line is closed during weekends, so call before 16:00 on Friday if you’re planning to sail on Saturday or Monday morning.
Free moorings in nature
You’ll often have the water all to yourself, making for a wonderfully relaxing trip. Spend the night at one of the Marrekrite moorings — remote spots in nature with jetties and buoys where you can stay for free for a few nights. It’s the perfect place for stargazing! If you need electricity, showers, fuel or water, choose a marina instead. Just check in advance which ones are open.
Waste disposal
During winter there aren’t many waste containers along the route, so keep your rubbish on board. If you come across litter in nature, take it with you — the birds and fish will thank you!
We wish you happy sailing on the peaceful Frisian lakes!
Sights on this route
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Grou
Grou is a touristy yet characteristic watersports village in the heart of Friesland with a lively center.
Peanster Ie
The Peanster Ie is a lake located near Grou, bordering the Pikmar and the Burstumerrak.
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.
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.
Akkrum
Akkrum is a charming watersports village in the heart of the Frisian lake district, near the National Park De Alde Feanen.
Aanlegplaatsen It Gearstalt Akkrum
Vlakbij de spoorbrug, dicht in de buurt van het centrum van Akkrum, is er een passantenkade.
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.
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.
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.
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.