Overnight stays on the water

Sleeping on the water is about more than a good night's rest. From a peaceful night on a mooring buoy on the Morra to cosy chats in the little marina at Gaastmeer: these are our loveliest overnight spots.

Most holiday stories are about picturesque villages, lovely museums, good food and interesting people. When we tell our holiday story, it's often about sleeping. Because sleeping on the water is more than a good night's rest thanks to a comfy bed and fresh bed linen. Sleeping on the water is about spending the night on the water, and that begins the moment you decide whére you'll spend it.

Many of our guests share their special experiences of overnighting on the water, ranging from the atmosphere of a cosy village harbour to the dead-quiet nights in the middle of the open lakes.

One of our loveliest memories goes back to our first year with our own boat. We decided to moor up to a mooring buoy at the Morra. You'll find mooring buoys all over Friesland. That way you don't need to drop anchor, you don't damage the lakebed, and you can be sure you won't wake up the next day with your boat in the reeds.

The Morra, a vast lake surrounded by sweeping views, is an idyllic setting for an unforgettable night on the water. As soon as you tie the boat to the mooring buoy and realise you can't go anywhere, you feel the peace straight away. We were there on a warm August evening, and after a spot of paddleboarding we sat down on the foredeck to enjoy, in complete silence, the gentle rocking of the boat and the sound of lapping water all around us. Until we heard an unusual sound in the distance and were surprised by huge flocks of starlings. Thousands of birds danced through the sky in a swarm, skimmed past the meadows and then flew on to make room for the next flock. Slowly the sun went down, leaving a beautiful pink sky on the horizon. Captivated by this stunning scenery, we got up early the next morning to watch the sunrise, breathless. And apart from that, there was nothing else at all.

Over the years, we and our guests have slept in plenty of special places.

Because overnighting on the water in Friesland is a unique experience, with a choice of quiet spots in nature, atmospheric villages and even lively towns.

Little marinas such as Gaastmeer and the picturesque Easterlittens embody the charming simplicity and hospitality of the Frisian landscape.

In Gaastmeer, your overnight stay comes with a local cultural énd culinary experience. We like to moor up late in the afternoon, júst in time to buy freshly smoked eel from the local eel fisherman (one of the last in Friesland). The harbour master shows everyone the way, spontaneously telling the local history as he goes. On the aft deck we enjoy the smoked eel just as much as the wonderful conversations. During the evening, various boaters take a stroll through the village and everyone stops for a chat. In Easterlittens we like to moor up in the little marina at the local campsite. Before bed, we take a walk through the village, or hop on the campsite's hire bikes to have a nightcap in Wommels or Easterein. It's precisely the variety of sleeping in the middle of nature, in a village and in one of the Elfsteden that makes boating so much fun and varied, and waking up even better!