Holbæk Fjord

About This Anchorage

Holbæk Fjord is the southernmost navigable arm of the Isefjord system — a completely enclosed inland waterway with the market town of Holbæk at its head. The anchorage in 2–5m over thick mud offers complete shelter from all wind directions. Holbæk (population 28,000) is one of the main towns of western Zealand with full urban facilities: supermarkets, chandlery, fuel, and regular train connections to Copenhagen (1 hour). The Holbæk Museum covers the history of the Isefjord region from the Stone Age to the present, with a remarkable collection of traditional local craft. The fjord is famous for pike fishing — some of Denmark's largest pike inhabit the shallow muddy arms. For sailors arriving from the busier Øresund or Kattegat, Holbæk Fjord offers the most complete inland retreat in the Copenhagen sailing area.

Hazards

• !Approach channel minimum 2.5m — carry current chart; shallow either side of buoyed channel
• !Eelgrass throughout fjord edges — anchor in central mud channel only
• !Fog common in enclosed fjord on summer mornings — anchor alarm essential
• !Mud anchor retrieval — allow extra time and bring washing equipment
• !Dinghy traffic and kayakers in summer — maintain speed limit

Skipper's Tips

• →Holbæk is the best provisioning stop on the inland Isefjord circuit — full supermarkets, fuel, and chandlery accessible by dinghy
• →Train to Copenhagen (1 hour) from Holbæk station — the perfect day trip option; leave the boat anchored and explore the capital
• →The Holbæk Museum (Algade 1) has an exceptional collection of local craft including traditional Isefjord fishing boats and Viking Age finds from the fjord
• →The fjord at dawn is a birdwatcher's paradise — great crested grebe, kingfisher, and marsh harrier are common in the reed beds
• →From Holbæk, the Isefjord circuit back to Frederikssund (25nm) follows the eastern shore — a sheltered, quiet inland passage

Nearby Anchorages