From Nieuwpoort via Canal De Furnes

Tuesday 7th June 2005

After borrowing the bikes again to stock up on groceries for our trip, we left the marina just after 3pm to refuel. Belgium is one of the few places where you can still buy red diesel for boats and the savings are well worth it, so we topped right up as we don't know exactly where the next fuel point will be, but we do know for sure it will be the more expensive white diesel.

Veurne Lifting Bridge

On leaving the marina we joined the Canal de Nieuwpoort a Dunkerque which is a commercial waterway. It runs for 11 kilometres through 1 lock from Nieuwpoort (where it joins the River Yser) to Furnes where it joins the Canal de Furnes). We were only on the canal for a kilometre or so before entering the lock, once inside and tied up ready for the sluice gates we were approached by the lock keeper who asked that my husband accompany him to his office in town as we were not displaying a current Inland Waterways licence for Belgium. I stayed behind on the boat thinking 'crikey, we have only been left an hour and one of us has been marched off by officials'. The licence cost 25 euros and covered us for our journey to Dunkerque where we would join the french canals.

As we approached Veurne our stop for the night, we passed through a small lock and a railway lifting bridge, neither of which caused any problems. Immediately after the lock we entered the town where there is a large visitors mooring basin, the lock keeper had asked if we would like to stay and we were told we could moor wherever we liked. The mooring had water, electricity and for one night was free of charge.

Veurne Town Centre mooring basin

Harwich, UK to Nieuwpoort, Belgium

Sunday 5th June 2005

After checking the weather forecast we decided that we should leave for Belgium today, or it is very likely we will be weather bound until much later in the week. It is a lovely clear day with a bit of breeze, probably around a force 4, so we checked with the Harbour Master who agreed we could lock out of the marina around 12.15pm

The first three hours of our trip were ok but when we started to reach open water, it got really rough, blowing at least a force 5 and at times a force 6. The waves were thrashing against the starboard side of the boat and coming over the top. I remembered from a previous trip that there was a high rise block of flats very close to the marina at Niewpoort and if I could only see them, we couldn’t be that far away – if only!! Eventually I spotted the flats, so much for being close when you could see them, it was nearly another hour before we got into the harbour entrance, around 6.30pm. We made it!! There is something very special about arriving in a foreign port under your own steam.

We were directed to a berth, which was a floating pontoon, but only a very short one. Getting on and off the boat was going to be tricky, but at least we were tied up for the night.

Niewpoort Marina

After cleaning up, washing down the boat and having something to eat, we decided to have a look around the marina. The facilities are really good, there is a shower & toilet block, launderette, a chandlery, bike hire (free for 2 hrs) and a bar/restaurant. The Yacht Club was open so we decided to pop in for a quick one or two(it would be rude not to) before heading back to the boat for the night.

Niewpoort Marina Yacht Club