Hellevoetsluis (Haringvliet)

Setting Your Anchor

1. Check tidal height for tidal locations (Hoek van Holland, Scheveningen, Biesbosch); Grevelingenmeer and Veerse Meer are non-tidal
2. Plan arrival at HW for tidal locations; non-tidal lakes can be entered at any time
3. In Rotterdam waterways: monitor VHF CH 67 and stay in designated small craft areas at all times
4. Set your anchor alarm immediately after anchoring — before going below or sleeping

About This Anchorage

Hellevoetsluis (population 40,000) was the Dutch Republic's main naval base from 1618 to the 19th century — the fleet of the VOC and later the Dutch Navy departed from here for battles across the world. The historic naval dock (completed 1821) is now a marina and open museum. The Arsenal building (1793), powder magazines, and dry dock remain. This is the best-preserved naval heritage site in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. The town has a well-organised marina, excellent restaurants on the waterfront, and a strong local character. Hellevoetsluis is positioned on the Haringvliet — a large sheltered waterway behind the Haringvlietdam (Delta Works) — making it an excellent base for exploring the South Holland islands and the Grevelingenmeer beyond.

Hazards

• !Haringvliet sluice discharge: when the Rijkswaterstaat discharges through the Haringvlietdam, currents in the Haringvliet can increase significantly — check discharge schedules
• !Shallow areas in Haringvliet outside marked channels — use electronic charts; the delta has extensive shoaling outside navigation lanes
• !Lock access via Haringvlietsluizen from North Sea — check opening times before approach from sea side
• !The Haringvliet is large and exposed in strong SW winds — steep chop can build in the open water
• !Historic dock entrance: narrow approach; call VHF Ch 16 for dock entry guidance

Skipper's Tips

• →The historic Arsenal and dry dock at Hellevoetsluis are free to visit — one of the finest examples of Dutch naval heritage anywhere
• →From Hellevoetsluis, Grevelingenmeer (the finest non-tidal anchorage lake in the Netherlands) is 20nm via Stellendam and the Grevelingendam lock
• →Saturday fish market at the waterfront is excellent — local catch, smoked eel, and seasonal seafood
• →Bike the island of Voorne-Putten from the marina — flat cycling country with windmills, polders, and the North Sea coast (12km to Rockanje beach)
• →The 1672 'Rampjaar' (Disaster Year) when Louis XIV's France invaded: Hellevoetsluis was the last secure Dutch naval base — the story is told well in the local museum

Nearby Anchorages