From Nieuwpoort to Bruges

It's time to say goodbye to Nieuwpoort and to start our tour to the Netherlands. The route we planned starts with the Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort and the Kanaal Gent-Oostende where we visit Bruges, the Ringvaart with a short side trip along the Leie, Ketelvaart and Schelde to visit Gent, continues with the Boven-Zeeschelde, Rupel and Dijle to Mechelen, the Beneden-Nete, Netekanaal, Albertkanaal, Kanaal Bocholt-Herentals, Zuid-Willemsvaart until we reach the Kanaal Wessem-Nederweert and the Maas in the Netherlands where we have booked a berth for September and October.

View to the marina in Nieuwpoort

The bridges at the Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort are open only twice a day which means that we have to join a convoy at 10 in the morning at the first bridge. But first we have to go through a tidal lock which is operated 3.5 hours before and after high tide. Strange that the times for the bridges are fixed while they can only be reached after passing a tidal lock! But this day we can pass the lock at 9 and we are on time at the bridge. The first kilometers are busy with a lot of boats around us, but thanks to the convoy we don't have to wait for the bridges to open, and after 2 hours we reach the historic Plassendale lock.

Convoy at the Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort

From here we use the Kanaal Gent-Oostende, a very nice canal where we have to deal with only a couple of commercial barges. The convoy has lost some of the boats for mooring or other directions, but we still are in company with three other boats, and this little convoy leads us throug all the bridges around Bruges. Normally the bridges are only opend for commercial barges, and sportsboats have to wait for them, but for the four of us it was obviously worth to open the bridges and to operate another lock in Bruges.
The passage route around Bruges is wonderful! Finally, we reach our destination for this day, the Yachtclub Flandria where we were cordially welcomed by the harbour master Martine.  

Clubhouse of Yachtclub Flandria

The Yachtclub is a wonderful place to stay for one or two nights, quiet but in easy walking distance to the historic center of Bruges and well equipped with water and electricity, showers, washing machines and free wifi . Here we got our first fresh croissants for breakfast, because they even offer a service to deliver fresh bakery products in the morning if it is ordered until 7 in the evening!
Bruges itself is well worth a visit! The historic center is outstanding and full of atmosphere. We stay 2 nights in this wonderful city.

Belfry at the market square in Bruges