Weesp

About This Anchorage

Weesp is Amsterdam's most recent but least expected acquisition — merged into the city municipality in 2022, though the 12,000-person town retains its historic character as a completely separate entity. The town centre (Markt square, canal ring, harbour) is virtually unchanged since the 17th century — merchant houses, weigh house (Waag), and the Reformed church on a classic Dutch canal-ringed market square. The Vecht river (the Riviera of the 17th century) attracted Amsterdam's wealthy merchants who built their country estates along its banks — Weesp is the southern gateway. The famous Dutch liqueur company De Kuyper was founded in Weesp in 1695 — still one of the largest in the world. Weesp is connected to Amsterdam by frequent trains (15 minutes) — an ideal quiet anchorage for visiting the city.

Hazards

• !Commercial barge traffic on Vecht — large barges create significant wash; fenders essential on outer berths
• !Shallow sections in the Vecht south of Weesp (toward Utrecht) — check ANWB waterkaart before continuing south

Skipper's Tips

• →Weesp's Markt square and canal ring is the best-preserved small Dutch Golden Age town centre in the Amsterdam region — the contrast with busy Amsterdam is immediately apparent
• →Train to Amsterdam Centraal from Weesp station (800m from harbour) takes 15 minutes — ideal base for city visit without the Amsterdam marina costs
• →The Vecht river south of Weesp to Utrecht is one of the most beautiful waterway routes in the Netherlands — 17th-century estate gardens (buitenplaatsen) line both banks; allow 2 days for the full river circuit
• →De Kuyper liqueur (founded Weesp 1695) — the historic distillery building is visible from the river; the brand is now one of the world's largest liqueur producers
• →Weesp combines well with Muiden (4nm north) and Naarden (6nm northeast) for the best historic towns circuit in the Amsterdam waterways

Nearby Anchorages