Late July 2017 – Lemmer, Urk and Vollendam – Holland

27th July – Thursday – Grou to Lemmer

Only 16 miles today, a quick 3 hour hop.  Mostly overcast but no issues.

29th July – Saturday – Wouda Steam Pumping Station

There are a handful of steam pumping stations around the Ijsselmeer, used for re-distributing the water when the levels rise too high.  These have been replaced by electric versions now.  However Wouda is the largest operational steam powered pumping station and is still used as a backup in times of severe flooding.

It is not until you get all the way up the driveway and up the stairs into the new visitor centre that you find out the admission fee 8.50 euros per person. 

The volunteers and guides are generally retired and the guided tour was conducted in Dutch, so you are given an Ipad with an audio/visual guide to help on the way around.  We tagged onto a group, as you are not allowed to wander around un-escorted.  Ourselves and a German family felt a bit embarrassed playing the audio guides in our languages as the guide spoke, but they did not provide headphones.

Each item had a number for the guide and these were two of the 4 boilers.

Mick in the engine shed.

Afterwards there was a good display in the visitor centre and a film, which had English subtitles, about how the steam pumps came to the rescue just before the Centenary celebrations.

Sailors Info:

Lemmer Binnen Haven - We stayed here on the way up, 79 euros for 4 nights.  50 cent 3 minute showers.  Good supermarkets on the way into town. Wifi extra.

1st August – Tuesday – To Urk

There are two options when leaving Lemmer.  Negotiate the town and the onlookers through 3 bridges and a lock or go through the larger lock a little way back up the canal. 

0915 start and again only 16 miles, but this time it was 4 hours as we had a wait at Princess Margaritesluis.  The size of the commercial traffic has increased.  We went in after the big guys and before the bridge, due to the mast.  The bridge only opens once the commercial traffic has exited the lock.

Mick with his rope on the high recessed cleats.  Notice the very low bumpers which line the side of the lock, therefore meaning fenders need to be in the water.  On leaving Lemmer we passed the huge windmills again, more of which later.

The view of the Lighthouse and Windmills at Urk.

2nd August – Wednesday

We decided to walk to the windmills today.

Passed the old lighthouse, which is still in use.

On the first picture of Urk the windmills look like they are next to the lighthouse, but it took us 45 minutes just to walk to the first windmill.

Sadly no picture can do them justice, they are majestic.

The statue is a memorial to the fishermen who have lost their lives and represents a loved one awaiting their return.  It is surrounded on all sides by a wall full of names.  Before the Ijsselmeer and Markermeer were created by damming and making locks Urk was an Island with a large fishing fleet.  It still feels like a fishing town today.

Old Boat Yard on the sea front.

The wind then blew for 4 days, so we pottered around and generally left the boat to be relieved from the rocking.

The Orca statue spurts its fountain at unsuspecting passers-by.

Urk is also known for being very religious and the ladies to the town dress all in black in an Amish kind of way.  The tent behind Mick was home to volunteers, spreading the word, giving out leaflets and offering free refreshments. 

Note: Urk closes on Sundays.  No cafes, restaurants, bars or shops.  One ice cream hut and the yacht club restaurant were the only exceptions we found.

Urk is also known for these little critters.  We awoke to literally hundreds all over the boat and everyone else’s boats.  They only appear on still evenings, so not much problem this year!

Breakwater Pontoon.

Sailors Info:

Urk Harbour is efficiently controlled by several harbour masters, who travel around in this.

You can go to the office to pay but a sign at the end of the pontoon says they will collect dues, as it is quite a walk.

The breakwater pontoon above is the most obvious place to moor, but we went further in and moored on Pontoon E, which had new jetties and easy access to town.  People were rafting on the breakwater when there were plenty of spaces.

17 euros per night decreased to 11.50 at weekend, possible due to the town closure.  The facilities are in porta-cabins in 3 locations on the harbour-side.  Free wifi. Boni supermarket near the marina, just aim right.  Large shopping centre with Aldi, AH and Jumbo a 20 minute walk away.

Next stop Vollendam, then back to Amsterdam.