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Kayak
· Netherlands
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Craftsmen's flourish in BolswardPhoto: Marit van Santen, Community
Not described is to go immediately from the starting point via the shortest route to the center of Bolsward and not sail the entire northern part of the route.
Park at the Sporthal De Middelzee on De Blink, to the left of the starting point (flag to the right of center). Carry the canoe, kayak, or SUP on foot over the bridge to the low jetty (50 m).
An alternative starting point is at the bus station on Snekerstraat, which is often fully occupied as a mooring spot during summer.
The lower part of the route goes through the city center from north to south, then around the center and then back through the center from south to north. This can be shortened at your discretion by only sailing around the center, or only the left or right part.
From the start, go right, under the bridge.
A. At the fork, turn right to follow the basic route. This is a shortening point. You can also go straight here and skip the loop through the watery, green neighborhood. You then pick up the route again at point M.
B. Turn right at this fork
C. Turn right again
D. Keep right/straight ahead
E. At this fork, keep left
F. Turn left at this fork
G. Turn left again
H. After the pedestrian bridge, turn left (going straight is also possible, you will end up at the same point, but then go between houses)
I. At the fork, turn left (or right if you went straight at the previous point)
J. Go straight at the intersection
K. Go straight at this fork
L. Turn right (left is also possible, then at the next fork turn right again, you will reach the next point (M))
M. Turn right and keep following the canal until the Kleasterfeart
N. Turn left onto the Kleasterfeart
O. At the intersection, turn left onto the Leeuwardervaart
P. Go straight at this intersection to follow the basic route
You pass this intersection 3 times if you keep following the basic route
This is a shortening point. You can choose not to go through the center, but to sail around the center. In that case, turn left and pick up the route again at the Krûswetter (at the city canal intersection, at point T)
Q. Go straight at the fork
R. Here come 2 forks shortly after each other, go straight on both.
For enthusiasts: the first turn, to the right, leads to the Franciscusbasiliek
S. In the center, right next to the Bolsward town hall, you'll find the canoe jetty. An excellent place now (or later, if you pass by again), to explore the center a bit or have something to eat and drink on a terrace
T. Turn right to the western city canal
This is a shortening point. Turn left here if you only want to sail the right part around the center. You then pick up the route again at the next turn (point W)
If you chose at point P not to go through the center, you will arrive here. Continue your route straight ahead.
U. Turn right again
V. Go straight at the intersection
W. Go straight at the fork to follow the basic route
This is a shortening point. If you chose to sail only the left part of the center, turn left here.
X. This is the alternative starting point
Y. Turn right to sail back through the center
Z. Here the 2 forks come shortly after each other again. Go straight at both to follow the basic route
This is also an extension point. For adventurous paddlers among us, this is a nice excursion through narrow canals and past old buildings. Requires skill and technique with longer kayaks and canoes because of fairly narrow, almost right-angled bends.
On this alternative route, vegetation in and over the water can make passage difficult or impossible. The last bit back to the basic route is very narrow.
Kayakers: bring a short canoe paddle or hand flippers
A. Go straight.
If you took the extension, you will arrive here and turn right.
B. Turn right at the intersection
C. Turn left at the fork
D. Turn left at the fork and after about 150 meters you will see the boarding point on the right
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
During the boating season on the city canal around the center and on the Leeuwardervaart (the northwestern part of the route), expect a lot of traffic from pleasure craft.With heavy traffic, paddlers can quickly end up in the blind spot of larger yachts. Think about your own safety and give them space. Even if you are supposed to have priority.
Tips and suggestions
There are (online) descriptions of paddling under the Franciscusbasiliek. I have no personal experience with this and also do not know if the passage under the basilica or a bit further under the building on the corner of Mariahof is still accessible.
I do know that it is virtually impossible to paddle all the way through (if that is even possible), as the northwestern passage is not only very narrow but also contains a low (and long) culvert. There is no way to get in or out of the water there due to the height of the bank and because it passes through private property.
Only SUP paddlers, flat on their SUP, might make it.
I do not guarantee a tick-free passage in that case ;-).
For the adventurer who still wants to take a look: the entrance to the Franciscusbasiliek is at point S. (The other end, the low culvert, is between point V and point W, just before the bridge).
Parking
At the parking lot at De Blinker primary school.Coordinates
Equipment
If you are planning to paddle the extension as a kayaker or want to visit the Franciscusbasiliek, make sure to bring a short canoe paddle or hand flippers.Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions