Medemblik
Medemblik haven · Westfries Museum · Kasteel Radboud
52°46.1'N 05°06.1'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m on IJsselmeer mud and sand in 2–4m. No tidal swing. Allow for wind seiche (0.3–0.5m level change in prolonged W/SW winds). IJsselmeer waves in F5+ can be steep and short — stay in inner harbour in strong northerlies.
About This Anchorage
Medemblik is the oldest town on the IJsselmeer shore — founded in the 7th century and mentioned in records as early as 714 AD. The Kasteel Radboud (Castle Radboud, 1288, restored 1889) stands directly on the harbour waterfront and is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands. The steam tram museum (Museum Stoommachinemuseum) preserves Dutch industrial heritage. The town is a popular West-Frisian sailing destination — the harbour is one of the most visited on the IJsselmeer west coast. The inner harbour has full facilities. The outer anchorage is sheltered from south and west but fully exposed to the long north fetch of the IJsselmeer. The Westfries Museum in nearby Hoorn covers the entire West-Frisian coast history.
Protected From
E · SE · S · SW · W
Exposed To
N · NE · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Harbour fee approx €18–24/night (inner marina); outer anchorage free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Anchor in outer area only (no anchoring in harbour entrance channel); IJsselmeer speed limit 9km/h within 500m of shore; shipping channel (N–S) runs offshore — keep clear; in strong N/NE conditions use inner harbour only.
Hazards
- !Long north fetch (65nm) — steep short-period waves in F4+ from north; outer anchorage untenable in N conditions
- !Wind seiche — 0.3–0.5m level change after prolonged W or SW winds; check depth carefully
- !IJsselmeer crossing to east shore (Enkhuizen, Hoorn) — 15–20nm open water; plan for weather conditions
- !Tourist paddle steamers (stoomboot) on IJsselmeer in summer — monitor AIS/VHF
- !Harbour fills in July–August — call ahead for inner marina berth
Skipper's Tips
- →Kasteel Radboud (1288) is open May–October — the castle's position directly on the harbour waterfront is unique in the Netherlands; visible from the anchorage
- →Museum Stoommachinemuseum (Steam Engine Museum) has the finest working collection of steam engines in the Netherlands — housed in a Victorian pumping station
- →The paddle steamer (Friesland) runs between Medemblik, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen in summer — a classic IJsselmeer experience; can be observed from anchorage
- →West-Frisian towns circuit: Medemblik–Enkhuizen–Hoorn forms the classic IJsselmeer west coast sailing circuit (50nm); add Urk for the cross-lake passage
- →Wind seiches on the IJsselmeer can affect planning — check Rijkswaterstaat IJsselmeer level data before crossing
Facilities
Medemblik town has restaurants, cafés, and a supermarket within 500m of harbour. Harbour-side cafés and fish restaurant.
Nearest provisions: Medemblik town centre (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Peak season (July–August) is extremely busy on the IJsselmeer — the most popular cruising ground in the Netherlands. May–June offers better winds and fewer crowds. The IJsselmeer can be sailed in calm October conditions.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
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