Hoorn (IJsselmeer)
Hoorn harbour · VOC city · Hoofdtoren
52°38.5'N 05°03.6'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m in the well-sheltered Hoorn harbour in 2–4m IJsselmeer mud. Non-tidal — no swing adjustment needed. The outer roadstead may need 80m in SW conditions due to wind-driven chop.
Setting Your Anchor
- Check tidal height for your arrival time using Waddengids or Rijkswaterstaat tidal tables
- Plan arrival at HW -2 for tidal locations; IJsselmeer anchorages are non-tidal — arrive any time
- Navigate daylight only in all Wadden and coastal channels; IJsselmeer night sailing permitted with care
- Set your anchor alarm immediately after anchoring — before going below or sleeping
About This Anchorage
Hoorn (population 73,000) was one of the great VOC (Dutch East India Company) cities of the 17th century — the trading port from which Willem Cornelisz Schouten sailed in 1616 to discover the southernmost tip of South America, naming it Cape Horn after his home city. The Hoofdtoren (1532, the 'Main Tower') stands at the harbour entrance exactly as it appeared in Golden Age paintings. The Westfries Museum in the 17th-century council building is excellent. The old harbour (Binnenhaven) is beautifully preserved with step-gabled warehouses. The Thursday market (mid-June to mid-August) in historic costume is a popular tourist attraction. Hoorn connects to Amsterdam by train (35 minutes) — useful for crew changes.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina approx €20–28/night; outer roadstead anchoring free or nominal fee
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Non-tidal IJsselmeer; speed limit 20 km/h; no anchoring in navigation channels; electronic charts mandatory.
Hazards
- !Busy harbour in July–August — pre-book marina berths or expect to raft; outer roadstead becomes crowded
- !Steep short seas in strong SW winds on IJsselmeer — the large fetch from Lemmer (40nm) creates uncomfortable chop even inside 15kt
- !The historic Thursday market (June–August) brings large crowds to the waterfront — noise and activity until late evening
- !Commercial ferry traffic (Hoorn–Enkhuizen, occasional) uses the harbour approach — keep clear of ferry berths
- !Train connection to Amsterdam means large day-tripper crowds on weekends in summer
Skipper's Tips
- →The Westfries Museum is one of the best regional museums in the Netherlands — the VOC collection and 17th-century rooms are extraordinary
- →Take the train from Hoorn to Amsterdam (35 minutes) for crew changes or provisioning — the station is 15 minutes' walk from the harbour
- →Thursday market in historical costume (June–August) is genuinely atmospheric — arrive early for the best light for photography
- →The Hoofdtoren is illuminated at night — anchor in the outer roadstead for the view before entering the inner harbour
- →Hoorn Yacht Club (Watersportvereniging Hoorn) has visitor facilities — ask on VHF Ch 16 for moorings on arrival
Facilities
Hoorn city centre has an excellent range of restaurants, cafés, and a covered market. Full supermarkets in town (0.8km from harbour). Chandlery and marine services available.
Nearest provisions: Hoorn city centre (0.6nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Major sailing destination on the IJsselmeer. Best weeks are May–June and September when the city crowds thin but weather remains excellent. Thursday market June–August is popular.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 55m
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