Muiden
Muiden haven · Muiderslot · Muider Rede
52°19.9'N 05°04.3'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m on IJmeer mud and sand in 2–4m. No tidal swing. SW–NW fetch across 8km IJmeer — use inner harbour in SW conditions. The Muiderslot castle at the harbour entrance is the iconic landmark.
About This Anchorage
Muiden is one of the most photographed sailing destinations in the Netherlands — the Muiderslot (Muider Castle, 1285) sits at the entrance to the harbour, its round towers and moat perfectly reflected in the water at dawn. The castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands — it was once owned by the Dutch poet P.C. Hooft (1581–1647) who ran the Muiderkring (Muiden Circle), a salon of the greatest Dutch Golden Age writers and artists. The castle is open to visitors. Muiden is the gateway to the Vecht river — a beautiful waterway lined with 17th-century country estates (buitenplaatsen) of Amsterdam's Golden Age merchants, stretching from Muiden to Utrecht. The IJmeer outside Muiden is a popular racing and day-sailing ground for Amsterdam yachts — busy on summer weekends.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
SW · W · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Harbour fee approx €16–22/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Muiden lock (Grote Sluis) — VHF 22; commercial barge priority in Vecht and IJmeer approach; Muiderslot — heritage site; no anchoring in shipping channel; IJmeer speed restrictions; busy racing waters on summer weekends — give way to racing fleets.
Hazards
- !SW–NW exposure across 8km IJmeer — choppy in SW above F4; use inner harbour
- !Amsterdam sailing club racing at weekends — racing fleets have right of way on marked courses; check for race marks
- !Muiden lock waiting times (Grote Sluis) in peak season
- !Commercial barge traffic on the Vecht river north of the lock
Skipper's Tips
- →Muiderslot castle (1285) is open May–October — guided tours in period costume; the approach by dinghy from the anchorage with the castle reflected in the water is superb
- →The Vecht river north of Muiden (through the lock) is one of the most beautiful waterways in the Netherlands — 17th-century country estates line both banks; 25km to Utrecht
- →Early morning photography of the Muiderslot from the anchorage — the castle reflects perfectly in calm IJmeer water at sunrise
- →Muiden is the best combination of Amsterdam access (8nm by water or bus) and historic Dutch sailing scenery
- →The Muiderberg beach (2nm east along IJmeer south shore) is popular in summer — good swimming from anchor
Facilities
Muiden has restaurants and a café on the harbour. The Muiderslot castle café. Small supermarket in the village. Fuel dock in the marina.
Nearest provisions: Muiden village (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Muiden is very busy on summer weekends — the most popular day-sailing destination from Amsterdam. Weekdays are significantly quieter. The castle tours run May–October.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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