Willemstad, Kortgene, Kamperland, Middelburg – Late July 2022

11th July – Monday - Dordrecht to Willemstad

We had to leave through the Nieuwe Haven Bridge at 09.30.  Mick did a great job of getting us out of a tight mooring.  We then had to pootle around in the river with the big ships passing until 10.00 when the Rail and Road Bridges opened.

While we were waiting I managed to get a good picture of one of the large ships with his Cab elevated, to enable him see over the containers on his ship.  Elevate.

We arrived in Willemstad at 2.00pm after just 15 miles.

It looks pretty from the water too.

12th July – Tuesday

It was a hot and humid day so after doing the washing early and going shopping early we had time to visit the Mauritshuis Museum, and hopefully find some shade.

It wasn’t open the last time we came.  It has been newly refurbished in 2021 with state of the art video presentations.

It was built in 1623 by order of Prince Maurits, son of William of Orange.  Built with his own money as a residence and hunting lodge.

One of many stories told in the museum was projected onto this table and showed how the town protected itself by flooding.

Another large room had a full video presentation with a big button for ‘English’ which we pressed as we were the only viewers.

An ornate room used for weddings and functions.

And the now obligatory children’s museum and traditional items in the attic.

Maurtishuis is free to look around and also houses the tourist information office.

The Domed Church has evaded us again, but now we know it only opens on Saturdays.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the Bellevue Bar watching people with very expensive boats trying to park them in the small old Town harbour.  With a beverage or two.

This guy with the old Dutch barge did a precision manoeuvre.

See previous blogs for details on Willemstad marina.  Current price 22.70 Euros.

13th July – Wednesday – Willemstad to Kortgene

The 35 miles today took us just over 7 hours and we negotiated 3 locks.  It was overcast with a warm wind to make it bearable.

The most interesting vessel we saw enroute was this barge carrying what we think are grain silos, or maybe parts of windmills.  The ballast below the water to keep this upright would need some complicated mathematics.

Another new marina for us.  Delta Marina is located on the Island of Noord-Beveland which lies between the Oosterschelde to the North and the Veerse Meer to the South.

 

That night we ate at Grand Café DeLoods, between the marina and the town.  We had new season mussels which were 26 euros to eat on the terrace and 21 euros to eat in the tent/marquis.  We ate on the terrace, surprisingly….

A beautiful sunset rounded off the day.

Kortgene is a small town with one small High Street.

At the end of which is this windmill.  We did a few walks while we were there near the water side.

Sailors Info

Delta Marina is a modern marina with an onsite Restaurant, T’Veeruus, which was good.  There are a few other restaurants in town and a small number of shops.

Kortgene is a holiday home destination and water sport centre.

The SPAR in the High St was excellent, but Norberto’s Ice Cream Parlour next door was the star of the show, 48 flavours and Norberto was a delightful man.

90 euros for 3 nights.  New facilities.  Wifi OK.  It is a good passing marina for a night or two.

16th July – Saturday – Kortgene to Kamperland

The 10 miles only took 2 and a half hours.  We knew the hot spell was due and thought Kamperland looked busier.

There is another marina at the end of the Kamperland canal, but we took the canal to Kamperland Village marina. It would be a long walk to the shops from the first marina (above).

There were some Grand Design houses with private moorings at the side of the canal.

17th to 19th July – in the Heat

To be honest we did very little.  We went to the supermarket to stock up with things to keep us cool and lounged around inside or under the canopy for the rest of the time.  Taking walks when it was cooler.

We don’t have a freezer onboard so were relying on the fridge.  Thank goodness the fridge coped and the electricity stayed on, as there had been scare stories of power outages at home.  We keep a water bottle in the fridge for cold water drinks.  I also put a tupperware box in the fridge with cold water and flannels to wipe ourselves with.  And we dug out the fan that we bought in France in 2014, and had not used since.

This old temperature gauge just shows 32 degrees inside the boat.  It popped straight to 40 outside.

I used my oven temperature gauge for outside.  It is showing 50 degrees.

There have been more jelly fish this year.  These are in the marina.

These are next to the boat.  Clouds and clouds of them.

People across the pontoon with children where keeping them cool and entertained.

On the 20th there was a ‘Zomermarkten’ Summer Market in the main street.  The most interesting thing was that the organisers had connected speakers to the lamp posts for piped music.

Sailors Info

Kamperland Marina again new to us, opened the new marina office in March 2022.  The new flats are still in production.  Restaurant/Café Blush was operational but we didn’t partake .

Kamperland is another small town with shops and restaurants on the long High St. 

Albert Hein, which is within a small shopping centre, and Aldi are a 20 minute walk through the town, or a 10 minute walk on the road.

There is a popular traditional café on the corner of the marina towards the town.

The harbourmaster was very pleasant and told us about his fathers roots in Wigan.

Kamperland – 70 euros 4 nights.  New facilities. 1 euro for electric which did not expire.  Wifi was OK.

20th July – Kamperland to Middelburg

We survived Evie’s 3rd Birthday in the heat and were glad to see showers the day after.

At Veere the summer tourist trade was in full swing.  Two river cruisers parked together.

The lock at Veere took an age to rotate after the previous set of boats.  Then us and 9 other boats squeezed into the next rotation.

Even Middelburg was looking busy in the evening.  Rafted 3 deep in the canal under the bridge.

The 7 miles took 2 and a half hours, mostly waiting for the lock.  Ice creams and Kebbeling and Chips brought us round afterwards.

We spent another 3 nights in Middelburg wandering around and had a last night meal at T’Kemel on the harbour side.

Bye Bye Middelburg, until next time.

Next stop Ostend, Oostende, Ostende…..take your pick.