Boat hire in the region of your choice

4.8 on Google Reviews

Why it's so different from other provinces

The boating area in Friesland is large. The lakes are spread across the whole province, and so are the boats from Familieboten. Whether you want to sail in Leeuwarden, close to Heerenveen, near Heeg or from the Drachten area: you don't have to drive far before your boating holiday begins.

On this page you'll find, for each region, which departure points there are, how many boats are moored there and where you can sail from that marina. That way you choose not only the right boat, but also the best starting point for your boating holiday in Friesland.

Boat hire in Leeuwarden and the surrounding area

Leeuwarden is the capital of Friesland and a wonderful city to discover by boat. The Frisian capital has a rich network of canals and waterways that give you a very different view of the city from the one the average tourist gets to see. Familieboten has 8 boats based in and around Leeuwarden, from compact motorboats to roomier cruisers for a larger group. All can be hired without a boating licence, and all are within walking distance of the Frisian waters. From Leeuwarden you can sail towards the Prinses Margrietkanaal, the Sneekermeer, or via the Boarn to Grou. A week of boating from Leeuwarden gives you the space to experience both the city and the countryside of Friesland.

Boat hire at the Tjeukemeer and the Brekken in Heerenveen

Heerenveen lies on the edge of the Frisian lake district and is a natural starting point if you want to take a holiday from the middle or south of Friesland. The area around Heerenveen connects to the Tjeukemeer and the Brekken: two beautiful boating areas with plenty of possibilities.

There are several boats available in the area around Heerenveen. From Heerenveen you can sail towards Lemmer and the IJsselmeer, or head the other way towards Sneek and the Elfsteden. Thanks to its location, you can go in any direction.

Boat hire in Friesland's best-known watersports village: Heeg

Heeg is perhaps the best-known watersports village in Friesland, and for good reason. The village lies where the Hegermeer flows into the Fluessen, with open water in every direction. Boats in the Heeg area depart from nearby places such as Gaastmeer, IJlst and Terherne, all a short sail from the village.

Boat hire in the Drachten area

The town of Drachten itself isn't directly on a waterway, but the Frisian lakes are easy to reach from Drachten. The nearest departure point in our range is Grou, about 25 kilometres away, with more than 20 boats available. It's a picturesque watersports village on the Boarn and one of the most popular departure points in Friesland.

From Grou you head straight out onto the Frisian lakes: towards the Sneekermeer, the Bergumermeer or the Frisian Elfsteden. For people in and around Drachten, Grou is the natural starting point for a boating holiday in Friesland. Familieboten also has a boat available in Burgum, likewise close to Drachten.

Boating in the region of your choice? Hire a boat from Familieboten

Friesland is smaller than it looks on the map and bigger than you think on the water. From Leeuwarden, Heerenveen, Heeg or the Drachten area, you're out on the water in no time.

At Familieboten.nl you don't have to choose between a boat nearby and a boat that really suits you. With departure points across the whole province and a range of more than a hundred boats, you'll almost always find the combination of location, size and comfort you're looking for. And if you can't decide, give us a call and we'll work it out together.

Take a look at the current range, filter by your departure point and book straight away via familieboten.nl/boten/.

Find your boat