Boating in and around Heeg

BOAT HIRE

Boating in and around Heeg

Hiring a boat in Heeg and the surrounding area is the easiest way to discover the south-west of Friesland from the water. Heeg is a true watersports village on the Heegermeer, about ten kilometres south-west of Sneek. Our boats are moored in Gaastmeer, close to Heeg, and in the Elfstedenstad of IJlst, on the route to Heeg. From there you sail out onto the Heegermeer and the Fluessen, or to Heeg itself. All boats in this area are hired for a minimum of three days, so you really have time to sail, moor up and have nowhere to be. You don't need a boating licence. You hire directly from the owner, who in many cases will show you the ropes on the water personally.

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No boating licence needed

You can hire all our boats without a boating licence

Personal service

Feel free to give us a call with any questions. Together we'll find the right boat.

Local hire companies

You hire directly from the owner or a local boat hire company.

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Pay by iDEAL, PayPal, Apple Pay or bank transfer.

Sailing to Heeg from Gaastmeer or IJlst

Our boats are moored in Gaastmeer and IJlst. From both places you can head out onto the Heegermeer:

Gaastmeer: a small waterside village on the Piel, an inlet of the Fluessen, a few kilometres west of Heeg. From the village you sail straight out to the Groote Gaastmeer and the Heegermeer. It takes about an hour to get to Heeg.
IJlst: from IJlst it takes about an hour and a half to sail to Heeg and the Heegermeer. IJlst is known for the Eegracht and the wood-sawing mill De Rat, and Sneek is half an hour's sail further on.

From Heeg you can head in a different direction every day: across the open Heegermeer to Workum, via the Fluessen to Hindeloopen, via the sheltered route to Woudsend and Sloten, or via the Jeltesloot towards Sneek.

Boating routes via Heeg

Don't feel like planning a route yourself? Choose a short trip for a long weekend, or a longer route if you have more time.

Elfstedenroute (10-14 days). You sail through all the cities of the Elfstedentocht. Especially suitable for experienced skippers. When booking, keep an eye on the boat's passage height.
Frisian lakes and cities (4-5 days). The classic circuit, also suitable for less experienced skippers: wide lakes and short distances.

A well-known route past Heeg is the Rondje Friese Meren: Heeg, Woudsend, Sloten, the Tjeukemeer, Scharsterbrug, Langweer and back to Heeg.

For more routes, take a look at our boating routes page.

Mooring and overnight stays

There are several marinas close to the village in Heeg. You can stay overnight at these places:

Passantenhaven Heegerwâl. On the northern part of the Heegermeer, with more than 150 visitor berths and a recreational beach nearby.
Jachthaven Eendracht. Right on the Heegermeer, in a sheltered spot and less than 300 metres' walk from the centre of Heeg.
Islands in the Heegermeer. You can stay overnight for free on Rakkenpolle and Langehoekspolle. There are no electricity or water points here.

Mooring fees are paid per metre per night. For current rates, check the marina's website. Tourist tax may be added.

Which marina suits you best depends on the size of your boat and where you want to go. Not sure? Give us a call and we'll help you decide.

Practical info

Parking, shopping and bridges

Parking. When you set off, you park your car at the boat owner's place. This is almost always free.

Shopping. There is a Plus supermarket on the Koaldyk in Heeg. Bear in mind that the fridge on board is often smaller than your fridge at home.

Packing. We've written a blog about what's handy and smart to take with you on holiday.

Bridges and passage height. The marinas in Heeg can be reached by any boat. There are no restrictions due to low bridges.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a boating licence to hire a boat in Heeg?

You can sail all our boats without a boating licence. This is allowed for boats shorter than 15 metres that can't go faster than 20 kilometres per hour, and our boats meet both requirements. Many boats do require some boating experience, though. This is stated in the boat's description.

How long does it take to sail to Heeg?

From IJlst it takes about an hour and a half. From Gaastmeer it's about an hour. All boats are hired for a minimum of three days, so you have plenty of time. Most boats have Friday and Monday as fixed check-in days.

Where can I moor in Heeg?

You can moor at Passantenhaven Heegerwâl and Jachthaven Eendracht, close to the village. Mooring fees are paid per metre per night. You can also stay overnight on the islands of Rakkenpolle and Langehoekspolle in the Heegermeer.

Got more questions?

For more questions and detailed answers, take a look at our FAQ page

Karsten Ziebart

"Schon vor der Reise war der Kontakt ausgesprochen freundlich u. unkompliziert. Alle Fragen wurden schnell u. hilfsbereit beantwortet. Man merkt sofort, dass die Eigentümer ihr Boot lieben und mit viel Leidenschaft vermieten. Viele kleine Details an Bord zeigen, wie viel Wert darauf gelegt wird, dass sich die Gäste wohlfühlen und es ihnen an nichts fehlt. Die Vienna selbst ist ein tolles Boot: gepflegt, sauber, gemütlich u. super ausgestattet. Alles war durchdacht u. funktionierte einwandfrei."

Harmke

"Fantastic with teenagers! We wanted to do something fun with our children aged 15-22, and we more than succeeded: being active, relaxing, sunbathing, games, culture, swimming, all in one weekend. Lovely!"

Raymond and Joyce

"A lovely boat with everything you need on board. On arrival we were warmly welcomed by the boat's owner, who gave a good explanation as well as tips on where to sail. Partly thanks to this, we had a wonderful week. Given the condition of the boat (it's in immaculate condition), some boating experience is definitely advisable."

Ivonne

"A lovely boat for a fantastic boating holiday. We spent 1.5 weeks sailing the Blue Fox, just the two of us, and enjoyed it enormously! The boat is just right: comfortable and spacious, yet compact and easy to handle. Even without a bowthruster it steers superbly, and the engine is a real “start and go”. The facilities are top: a surprisingly spacious and well-cooling fridge and a domestic battery with a solar panel, so we hardly needed any shore power."

Ready for a relaxing boating holiday in and around Heeg?

Book the boat that suits you today!

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