Woudsend
Woudsend haven · Aldegea · Fluessen gateway
52°56.8'N 05°37.6'E
Depth
1.5–2.5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m on Frisian lake mud in 1.5–2.5m. Fully sheltered harbour at the lake junction. No tidal swing. Excellent mud holding — the anchor buries deeply in the soft Frisian lake bottom.
About This Anchorage
Woudsend is the archetypal Frisian sailing village — a small, authentically Dutch community of 2,000 at the strategic junction of several Frisian lake systems. The name derives from Woud (forest) and Einde (end) — the village stands at the edge of the former Frisian forest that was cleared for peat extraction. The harbour is the gateway to the Fluessen (south) — the largest and most open of the southwestern Frisian lakes (8km long, 2.0m deep). Traditional Frisian sailing boats (tjotters, otter, and lemsteraken) are built and maintained in Woudsend by one of the last traditional Frisian boatyards. The annual Sloepenroeien (rowing boat event) and the traditional boat market attract visitors in summer. The village has an 18th-century windmill (De Wachter, 1850) and the characteristic Frisian Reformed church.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina fee approx €12–16/night; mooring buoys in outer harbour
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Maximum draught 1.8m in approach channels; 5m from reed beds mandatory; speed limit 9km/h; ANWB waterkaart essential for Fluessen approach (shallow channels); no anchoring in main channel.
Hazards
- !Maximum draught 1.8m in approach channels; Fluessen approach may be shallower in some areas
- !Reed beds surrounding the Fluessen — mandatory 5m clearance
- !The Fluessen is large and open (8km) — chop builds in SW above F4; plan crossings carefully
- !Traditional boat races on the Fluessen in summer — give way to racing traditional craft
Skipper's Tips
- →The traditional Frisian boat building yard in Woudsend is one of the last working yards for traditional flatbooms — a visit is a window into 400 years of Dutch inland sailing history
- →The Fluessen (south via the Woudsend lock) is one of the finest sailing lakes in Friesland — 8km of open water with the characteristic low Frisian skyline; excellent for an afternoon sail
- →Woudsend is one of the quietest and most authentic villages on the Frisian lakes circuit — the contrast with busy Sneek is immediate
- →The De Wachter windmill (1850) is visible from the lake approach — open on summer weekends
- →From Woudsend, the southern Frisian circuit to Sloten (8nm), Balk (10nm), and Joure (12nm) can be completed in a 3-day loop
Facilities
Woudsend has a café, small restaurant, and a basic shop. Sneek (8nm) is the nearest full provisioning town. Traditional Frisian boat building yard open for visits.
Nearest provisions: Woudsend village shop (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Woudsend is one of the quietest destinations on the Frisian lakes circuit. July–August sees more visitors but the harbour is never as crowded as Sneek. The traditional boat races on the Fluessen are in August.
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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