Grou
Grou haven · Grouw · Pikmeer
53°04.8'N 05°50.2'E
Depth
1.5–2.5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m on excellent Frisian lake mud in 1.5–2.5m. No tidal swing. SW exposure across 3km of Pikmeer — choose the eastern shore anchorage areas for SW wind shelter. Excellent mud holding throughout the Pikmeer.
About This Anchorage
Grou is the principal sailing village on the eastern Frisian lakes — a complete contrast to Sneek (the western sailing capital). The village (population 5,500) has a large sailing club (Watersportvereniging Grou), a marina, and direct access to the Pikmeer, Wijde Ee, and the canal network connecting to Leeuwarden (capital of Friesland, 15nm north). The Pikmeer is a beautiful, reed-fringed lake — smaller than the Sneekermeer but perfectly proportioned for day sailing, dinghy racing, and quiet anchoring. The IFKS skutsje races (August) use the Pikmeer as a stage. Grou is the gateway to eastern Friesland via the Prinses Margrietkanaal — the principal commercial waterway through Friesland connecting the IJsselmeer (Lemmer) to Groningen and beyond. The village church (1651), the old windmill, and the canal harbour create the characteristic Frisian village atmosphere.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
SW · W · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free in designated lake areas; marina fee approx €14–18/night; mooring buoys available
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Maximum draught 1.8m in Pikmeer and approach canals; ANWB waterkaart essential; 5m from reed beds mandatory; speed limit 9km/h on Pikmeer; Prinses Margrietkanaal (commercial waterway north) — commercial barge priority; IFKS race course closure in August; no anchoring in commercial canal.
Hazards
- !Maximum draught 1.8m in all Pikmeer approaches — compulsory check before entering from any direction
- !Reed beds — 5m mandatory clearance; the Pikmeer shore is mostly reed-fringed
- !Prinses Margrietkanaal (north of Grou) — busy commercial waterway; commercial vessels have right of way
- !IFKS race course closure in August — Pikmeer closed to non-racing traffic during races
Skipper's Tips
- →The Pikmeer at dawn before the wind rises — the reed beds, flat water, and Frisian church tower create one of the finest pastoral scenes in the Netherlands
- →Grou is the ideal eastern base for the Frisian lakes circuit — day sails to Sneek (10nm west), Lemmer (16nm south via Prinses Margrietkanaal), and Leeuwarden (15nm north) are all achievable
- →The Wijde Ee north from Grou to Leeuwarden is one of the most scenic inland waterway routes in the Netherlands — the Frisian capital's canal ring and the historic Oldehove tower (a leaning tower that predates Pisa's) are at the end
- →Mooring buoys in the outer harbour are more convenient than anchoring in the Pikmeer if you want shore access — the harbour is 5 minutes by dinghy from the village centre
- →The IFKS skutsje races (August) through the Pikmeer are one of the finest spectacles in Dutch sailing — observe from the designated spectator shore areas
Facilities
Grou has restaurants, cafés, a supermarket, and a fuel dock. Well-equipped for eastern Frisian lakes cruising. Chandlery items available.
Nearest provisions: Grou village centre (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Grou is busier than the western Frisian lake villages but less crowded than Sneek. The combination of IJsselmeer access (via Lemmer, 16nm) and the Leeuwarden route (via Wijde Ee) makes it an important junction.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 55m
In the shallow Frisian Lakes, even a gentle nudge into a reed bed can hold you fast. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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