Aalsmeer (Westeinderplassen)
Westeinderplassen · Aalsmeer plassengebied · Flower market lakes
52°15.0'N 04°45.0'E
Depth
1.5–3m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m on peat mud in 1.5–3m. No tidal swing. Excellent holding in peat-mud — anchor buries well. Maximum draught 1.5m in many channels; the main plas is 2.5–3m deep in centre. Check ANWB waterkaart for shallow channels on approach.
About This Anchorage
The Westeinderplassen is a peat lake system southwest of Amsterdam — a landscape completely shaped by the Dutch peat-cutting industry of the Middle Ages. The lakes were created by peat extraction (turftrekken) and are surrounded by the low reed-fringed banks characteristic of this part of Holland. The area is now one of the most important nature reserves close to Amsterdam (Natura 2000). The nearby Aalsmeer Flower Auction (Royal FloraHolland) is the largest flower auction in the world — 13,000 acres of greenhouses and auction halls handling 12 billion flowers and plants annually. Visitor tours of the auction are available (Monday–Friday, early morning — the flowers are flown to destination by 10:00). The lakes are accessible from Amsterdam via the Ringvaart polder canal — a scenic approach through the polder landscape.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
SW · W · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (designated lake anchorage areas)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Maximum draught 1.5m in many approach channels (check ANWB waterkaart); Natura 2000 nature reserve — no landing in reed bed areas; speed limit 9km/h on lake; no motorised watersports in nature zones; flower nursery boats (supply vessels) active in canals — give way.
Hazards
- !Maximum draught 1.5m in many channels — ANWB waterkaart essential; approach channels are shallow and unmarked in places
- !SW fetch across 4km — choppy in SW above F4; limited shelter in open plas
- !Natura 2000 restrictions — reed bed landing prohibited; bird colonies in spring
- !Aircraft noise — Schiphol Airport is 5km north; constant flight path overhead
- !Flower supply boats active in canals — commercial traffic in narrow channels
Skipper's Tips
- →The FloraHolland flower auction tour (Monday–Friday, from 07:00) is one of the most extraordinary industrial experiences in the Netherlands — the scale of the flower handling operation is staggering
- →The peat lake landscape is uniquely Dutch — the low horizons, reed banks, and canal grid created entirely by medieval peat extraction
- →Shallow-draft essential: the Westeinderplassen is ideal for centreboarders and bilge-keelers; fixed-keel yachts with more than 1.3m draught should check channels carefully
- →The approach from Amsterdam via Ringvaart canal (Amstel river south from Amsterdam, turn west) passes through the polder landscape — one of the classic Dutch inland waterway routes
- →The Aalsmeer Historische Tuin (historical garden, by the lake) preserves traditional Aalsmeer horticultural varieties — open in summer
Facilities
No facilities at lake anchorage. Aalsmeer town (3km north) has full provisions. FloraHolland visitor centre has café. Stock up in Amsterdam before departure.
Nearest provisions: Aalsmeer town (3km north) (2nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. The flower auction is most active Monday–Friday year-round (tours available). The lake is a summer destination — quieter than IJsselmeer lakes. Excellent for shoal-draft cruisers.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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