Middelharnis (Grevelingenmeer)
Middelharnis haven · Goeree-Overflakkee · Grevelingen
51°45.4'N 04°09.6'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m on mud/clay in 2–4m. Non-tidal (controlled Haringvliet). Excellent holding. Some exposure to SW — leave if SW gale forecast; the Haringvliet is large enough to build significant chop in SW >20kt.
Setting Your Anchor
- Check tidal height for tidal locations (Hoek van Holland, Scheveningen, Biesbosch); Grevelingenmeer and Veerse Meer are non-tidal
- Plan arrival at HW for tidal locations; non-tidal lakes can be entered at any time
- In Rotterdam waterways: monitor VHF CH 67 and stay in designated small craft areas at all times
- Set your anchor alarm immediately after anchoring — before going below or sleeping
About This Anchorage
Middelharnis (population 10,000) is the main town on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee — the South Holland island between the Haringvliet and the Grevelingenmeer. The town has a beautiful historic centre with a 15th-century church (Grote Kerk) and step-gabled merchant houses. The painter Jan van Goyen spent time here and the flat polder landscape of Goeree-Overflakkee strongly influenced Dutch Golden Age landscape painting. The harbour is on the Haringvliet and provides an excellent base for exploring both the Haringvliet (northward) and the Grevelingenmeer (via Stellendam, southward). The island has extensive cycling routes and a North Sea coast at Ouddorp with remarkable dune landscape.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · E · SE · W
Exposed To
S · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina approx €15–20/night; outer anchorage free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Non-tidal controlled water levels (Haringvliet); speed limit 9 km/h in harbour approaches; Haringvliet sluice discharge events may affect currents — monitor Rijkswaterstaat.
Hazards
- !SW exposure across Haringvliet — chop builds in SW gale; marina gives better shelter than outer anchorage
- !Haringvliet sluice discharge creates temporary current events — monitor Rijkswaterstaat notices
- !Shallow areas outside marked channels in Haringvliet — use electronic charts
- !Limited fuel at Middelharnis — fill up at Stellendam before heading inland
- !Tourist facilities limited compared to larger Delta towns — self-sufficient approach recommended
Skipper's Tips
- →Middelharnis makes an excellent base for the Grevelingenmeer (via Stellendam, 10nm) — stop overnight before the lake
- →The Grote Kerk (15th century) in Middelharnis is one of the finest Gothic churches in South Holland — free entry
- →Cycling routes from the harbour to the North Sea coast at Ouddorp (25km round trip) pass through remarkable polder landscape and dune areas
- →The Jan van Goyen connection: the flat horizon and wide sky of Goeree-Overflakkee is the direct model for many Golden Age landscape paintings
- →Local asparagus (asperges from Flakkee polders) is a spring speciality — available in the harbour market April–June
Facilities
Middelharnis town centre (0.4km) has restaurants and supermarkets. Good provisioning base. Fuel at Stellendam (10nm).
Nearest provisions: Middelharnis town centre (0.4nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Quiet and undervisited compared to better-known Delta destinations. Good food, historic character, and excellent cycling. Well-placed for Grevelingenmeer access.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
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