Hoorn
Hoorn haven · Binnenhaven · Hoofdtoren
52°38.5'N 05°03.4'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m on IJsselmeer mud in 2–4m. No tidal swing. SW–NW exposure to 25km IJsselmeer fetch — in F4+ from SW/W, use the inner harbour. The Hoofdtoren at the harbour entrance is the leading mark.
About This Anchorage
Hoorn is the most celebrated sailing town in the Netherlands — the birthplace of Abel Tasman (discovered Tasmania and New Zealand), Willem Schouten (first man to round Cape Horn, 1616 — the cape is named after Hoorn), and Jan Pieterszoon Coen (Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies). At the height of the Dutch Golden Age, Hoorn was one of the six VOC chamber cities — the harbour was filled with East Indiamen loading spices for Amsterdam. The Westfries Museum in the historic town centre covers this extraordinary history. The harbour waterfront, dominated by the Hoofdtoren (1532), is the best-preserved 17th-century harbour scene in the Netherlands. The town centre has magnificent merchant houses (koopmanshuizen) from the 1600s, the Rode Steen square, and the Waag (weighing house).
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
SW · W · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina fee approx €20–28/night (Binnenhaven/Vissershaven)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Inner harbour by prior arrangement (VHF 74); outer anchorage free but exposed to SW; no anchoring in harbour approach channel; fast ferry service (Hoorn–Amsterdam connection) passes through IJsselmeer — monitor AIS; IJsselmeer speed limit 9km/h within 500m of shore.
Hazards
- !SW–NW fetch across 25km IJsselmeer — steep waves in F4+; outer anchorage uncomfortable in SW/W conditions
- !Holiday and tourist vessel traffic (Hoorn is a major tourist destination) — busy harbour approaches
- !Fast ferry service on IJsselmeer — monitor AIS
- !Harbour very busy in summer (July–August) — call VHF 74 before arrival; inner berths fill early
Skipper's Tips
- →The Westfries Museum (Rode Steen 8) is outstanding — covers the VOC history, Golden Age trade, and the extraordinary lives of Hoorn's explorers; the building (1632) is one of the finest in the Netherlands
- →The Hoofdtoren (1532) on the harbour entrance is the symbol of Hoorn — the tower has guided ships into the harbour for nearly 500 years; Hoorn is named in the cape at the southern tip of South America
- →The Rode Steen square has a statue of Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587–1629) — controversial VOC governor-general; the square is surrounded by authentic 17th-century buildings
- →Wednesday fish market (Rode Steen) — IJsselmeer pike-perch (snoekbaars), perch (baars), and eel (paling) fresh from the lake
- →Cycling from Hoorn along the West-Frisian wall (Westfriese Omringdijk, 126km medieval sea dike) — the most historic cycling route on the IJsselmeer coast
Facilities
Hoorn has excellent restaurants on the waterfront and in the historic centre. Supermarkets and full provisioning in town. Fish market (vismarkt) on Rode Steen square (Wednesday).
Nearest provisions: Hoorn town centre (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Hoorn is a popular tourist destination as well as a sailing port — the town is worth 1–2 nights. The Westfries Museum covers the Golden Age comprehensively. July–August is crowded both on the water and in the town.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
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