Page 430 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

428  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Sports Holidays

With its abundance of water, the Netherlands lends itself to all
kinds of watersports such as boating, sailing and canoeing;
however, there are also plenty of opportunities for sporting
activities on dry land, whether you want to kick a ball about
or play golf or tennis, or even go riding. Most VVV-gidsen
(see p432) tell you where there are golf courses and tennis
courts in the locality, and they give the addresses of angling
clubs, stables, boatyards, sailing schools and so on.
Ramblers in the Heuvelrug
in Utrecht
are also used by
many people. Canoeing is another popular
You can obtain watersport in the Netherlands.
information on Dozens of round trips in various
sailing and surfing craft orga nized in lakes, rivers
organizations at and the sea are also avail able.
institutions such The local VVV tourist office will
as the Commissie be able to direct you further.
Watersport
Canoeists enjoying themselves on the water Opleidingen
(watersports training Rambling and Cycling
Watersports commission) and the ANWB. Ramblers’ guides and maps can
The favourite places in the Surfers will find plenty to do on be obtained in many places,
Netherlands for watersports are the North Sea and IJsselmeer including the VVV, ANWB and
the Frisian seas, the coastal coast (surfing beaches, equip­ bookshops. The VVV also
lakes, the Plassengebied ment hire), and it is also possible provides information on
(lakelands), the southwest river to surf on many inland waters, walking tours and local events.
delta, and the lakes of the including the Reenwijkse The Er op Uit! booklet published
Vechtplassen, the Maasplassen, Plassen, the Randmeren and by the Dutch Railways contains
the IJsselmeer and, of course, the Frisian lakes. For further rambling routes from one
the North Sea. Everywhere there information on sailing, boating station to another. The majority
are abundant marinas and and windsurfing, ask at the of them are 15 to 20 km (9 to 12
watersports centres, often with Koninklijk Nederlands miles), though some two­day
equipment for hire. The ANWB Watersport Verbond (royal hikes are also described. You will
publishes the Wateralmanakken, watersports association). find route maps at the station
avail able at ANWB and VVV Good places for diving include where the hike begins. Around
offices and in bookshops, the Oosterschelde and 30 long­distance hiking trails
which give details of sailing Grevelingenmeer; for more have been marked out in the
regulations, bridge and lock information apply to the Netherlands. These routes,
opening times, port information Dutch underwater­sports which are at least 100 km (62
and so on. The ANWB/VVV association, the Nederlandse miles) in length, follow mainly
waterkaarten (navigation charts) Onderwatersport Bond. unmetalled tracks. A popular
Sailing
Sailing courses suitable for all ages and experience levels are widely available along the Dutch
coast for practically all types of vessel. Taking lessons at a CWO registered sailing school will
give you an internationally recognized CWO sailing certificate. More experienced sailors
can explore the North Sea, the IJsselmeer (watch out for strong winds), the Waddenzee
(where you have to watch the shallows) or the Westerschelde (which has strong
tidal currents). However, you can
also go for a more relaxing
experience on the Vinkeveense
Plassen lakes. Cruises are also
widely avail able. Hollands
Glorie (tel. 010­4156600)
offers cruises on traditional
sailing craft on waterways
such as the IJssel meer, the
Waddenzee and the Frisian lakes.
Yachting on the Oosterschelde Sailing dinghy

428-429_EW_Netherlands.indd 428 16/01/17 12:08 pm