Veerse Meer
Veere Lake · Veers Meer · Veerse Gat
51°33.4'N 03°40.7'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m on Veerse Meer mud and sand in 2–4m. No tidal swing. The lake is 22km long with SW–NE orientation — in SW winds (dominant) the full lake fetch applies; choose the NE bays for SW wind shelter.
About This Anchorage
Veerse Meer is a 22km-long brackish water lake on the Walcheren peninsula, created by the Delta Works in 1961. The lake is the most popular watersports destination in SW Netherlands — windsurfers, kite surfers, dinghies, and cruising yachts all share the water (with designated zones for each activity). The west end is dominated by the historic town of Veere (population 1,200) — one of the most perfectly preserved medieval merchant towns in the Netherlands, with a massive church (Grote Kerk, 1348) and the Scottish Houses (warehouses for Scottish wool trade, 1500s). The east end connects via Zandkreek lock to the Oosterschelde. The lake level is controlled by sluices — no tides. The south shore has designated anchorage bays with good holding.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
SW · W · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free in designated areas; mooring buoys available (fee approx €10–15/night)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Speed limit 9km/h in most areas (check ANWB waterkaart for exceptions); designated windsurfing and swimming zones — keep clear; anchor only in designated areas; nature reserves on south shore — check restrictions.
Hazards
- !SW fetch across 22km — short steep chop in strong SW winds; use NE bays for shelter
- !Windsurfers and kite surfers in designated zones — respect the zones; high-speed users
- !Speed boats in unmarked areas — maintain watch in busy sections of the lake
- !Lock waiting times at Zandkreek (east) and Veerse Gat (west) can be 30–60min in peak season
- !Busy July–August weekends — prime Dutch sailing lake; arrive early for anchorage positions
Skipper's Tips
- →Veere town (west end) is essential — the Grote Kerk (1348, never completed) is one of the most unusual Gothic churches in the Netherlands; the Scottish Houses on the quay date from the Scottish wool trade era
- →The ANWB waterkaart for Veerse Meer (sheet 1809) shows all designated anchorage bays, speed limit zones, and windsurfing areas — essential before entering the lake
- →Windsurfing conditions on Veerse Meer are famous — steady SW sea breeze in summer; observe the designated zones (windsurfers have priority in their zone)
- →The Zandkreek lock (east end) connects to Oosterschelde and thence to Grevelingenmeer — a popular onward routing for Zeeland cruising circuits
- →Water temperature reaches 20–22°C in July–August — swimming from anchor is excellent; the water is brackish (not fully salty) which makes it gentler than seawater
Facilities
No facilities at anchorage. Veere town (west end) has excellent restaurants, provisioning, and fuel. Wolphaartsdijk village nearby with basic provisions.
Nearest provisions: Veere town (2nm west) (2nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. The most popular Dutch sailing lake in SW Netherlands — extremely busy in summer. The combination of historic Veere town, good sailing, and proximity to Middelburg makes this an ideal Zeeland base.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
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