Hindeloopen
Hindeloopen haven · Hylpen · Hindeloopen VOC
52°56.5'N 05°23.3'E
Depth
1.5–3.5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m on IJsselmeer mud and sand in 1.5–3.5m. No tidal swing. Very exposed outer anchorage — only suitable in settled easterly or light conditions. Use the inner harbour in any westerly above F3. Wind seiche (0.3–0.5m) possible in prolonged SW winds.
About This Anchorage
Hindeloopen (Frisian: Hylpen) is one of the smallest and most extraordinary towns on the IJsselmeer — a former VOC city of 700 people in a perfectly preserved 17th-century canal ring. The town's unique contribution to Dutch culture is the Hindeloopen painting style (Hindelooper schilderkunst) — a distinctive folk art tradition of painting furniture, household objects, and walls with elaborate floral and figural designs in red, green, and blue, derived from Scandinavian and Asian influences via the VOC trade routes. The Hidde Nijland Museum (in the former weigh house) has the finest collection of Hindeloopen furniture and painting in the Netherlands. The town's canals and bridges, the painted interiors of the old houses, and the surrounding IJsselmeer landscape are remarkably unchanged since the Golden Age. Hindeloopen was home to a distinct dialect (Hylpers) that survives in limited use today.
Protected From
E · SE · S
Exposed To
N · NW · W · SW · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina fee approx €15–19/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Inner harbour maximum draught 1.8m; outer anchorage only in settled/easterly conditions — very exposed in W; no anchoring in harbour approach channel; IJsselmeer speed limit 9km/h within 500m of shore; heritage town — speed limit 6km/h in canal area.
Hazards
- !Very exposed outer anchorage — untenable in W/NW above F3; use inner harbour in all but settled easterly conditions
- !Approach channel minimum 1.8m — check ANWB waterkaart; IJsselmeer levels can vary with wind seiche
- !IJsselmeer crossing from east coast — 20nm open water; this is one of the widest parts of the lake
- !No fuel in Hindeloopen — plan fuel at Stavoren before arrival
Skipper's Tips
- →The Hidde Nijland Museum (Nieuwstad 28) has the finest collection of Hindeloopen folk art in the Netherlands — the painted furniture and household objects show the extraordinary decorative tradition that developed in this tiny town through VOC trade contact with Asia and Scandinavia
- →Walking the complete canal ring of Hindeloopen takes 20 minutes — the bridges, painted doors, and canal reflections are the most photographed scene in Frisian sailing
- →Hindeloopen is one of the best ice-skating destinations in the Netherlands when the IJsselmeer freezes — the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour) on skates passes through here
- →The town's position on the IJsselmeer west coast means the afternoon sea breeze (SW, F3–4, develops 14:00–18:00) makes for excellent sailing conditions on summer afternoons
- →Combine Hindeloopen with Stavoren (8nm south) and Workum (8nm north) for the classic southern Frisian IJsselmeer coast circuit — three towns in two days
Facilities
Hindeloopen has a café, the Hidde Nijland Museum café, and a small shop. No fuel — fill up in Stavoren (8nm south) or Makkum (8nm north). Limited provisions.
Nearest provisions: Hindeloopen village (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Hindeloopen is the most atmospheric and least-visited of the Frisian IJsselmeer coast towns — the combination of VOC history, unique folk art tradition, and intact 17th-century town plan make it one of the finest sailing destinations in the Netherlands.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
On the IJsselmeer, sustained westerlies build steep short seas quickly. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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