Delfzijl
Delfzijl harbour · Ems gateway · Zeehaven
53°19.7'N 06°55.6'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m in the enclosed Delfzijl marina in 3–8m. Tidal lock gives access — plan arrival around lock opening times. Ems estuary outer anchorage (if using) needs 100m+ due to 3kt streams and 3.5m tidal range.
Setting Your Anchor
- Check tidal height for your arrival time — many Groningen Wad anchorages dry at LW
- Plan arrival at HW -2 hours or better for all tidal locations in this region
- Daylight navigation only in all Wadden and Ems channels — no exceptions
- Set your anchor alarm immediately after anchoring — the tide will drop while you sleep
About This Anchorage
Delfzijl (population 24,000) is the primary port of Groningen province and the gateway between the Dutch and German North Sea coasts via the Ems estuary. The port has a long industrial history — salt mining, chemical industry — but the historic town centre around the church has been preserved. The marina is excellent and well-organised. Delfzijl serves as the staging port for passages into Germany (Emden, Borkum, East Frisian islands) and is the Dutch end of the Ems-Dollart estuary crossing. The Albert Schweitzer museum is a notable attraction. The lock system into the inner harbour means planning arrival around opening times (approximately every 2 hours at HW and HW -2).
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina approx €18–25/night; lock-through fee included
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Lock times: check current schedule (typically every 2 hours near HW); tidal approach via Ems estuary — daylight navigation recommended; Ems estuary shipping (Papenburg route) — VHF Ch 20 (Ems Traffic); check Schiffsdurchfahrt (cruise ship passage) schedules before approaching.
Hazards
- !Ems estuary tidal streams 2–3kt at springs — plan passage timing; avoid against-tide passages in large tides
- !Papenburg shipyard traffic: large cruise ships occasionally transited down the Ems — Schiffsdurchfahrt events close the river; check Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt Ems website
- !Lock times: inner harbour only accessible at specific opening times — do NOT arrive at other times expecting access
- !Industrial port traffic in outer harbour — keep to yacht transit lanes; monitor VHF Ch 20 (Ems Traffic)
- !Silting: Ems estuary approaches are subject to silting; check current depth notices from Rijkswaterstaat
Skipper's Tips
- →Delfzijl is the best provisioning base for passage to Germany — full services, fuel dock, and chandlery
- →Check Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt Ems (wsv.de) for Schiffsdurchfahrt schedules — when a cruise ship is being transited, the Ems is closed to all other traffic for up to 48hrs
- →VHF Ch 20 (Ems Traffic) covers the entire Ems estuary — maintain a listening watch
- →The tidal stream in the Ems can be used efficiently: ebb to Emden (eastward), flood back to Delfzijl
- →The harbour lock master usually speaks English — call on VHF or phone before first visit for lock schedule confirmation
Facilities
Delfzijl town centre (0.5km) has restaurants and full supermarkets. Chandlery and marine services available. Good provisioning base before German coastal passage.
Nearest provisions: Delfzijl town centre (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September for pleasure sailing. Port operates year-round for commercial traffic. Spring tides create the strongest streams — plan passages for neap tides if possible.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 55m
In the Groningen Wad and Ems estuary, anchor drag on a drying tidal flat can leave you stranded at low water. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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