Being day one of the BOC Holland/Belgium cruise we were scheduled to go to Haarlem today but first we had to link up with Virginia Lady and Precious Time who were to meet us in Amsterdam. It was a pleasant cruise on the Markermeer in the morning sun round the eastern tip of the ex-island of Marken and along the Pampus channel to the Oranjesluizen. A typical lock through with no apparent change of water level and we were into the busy waters of the city. With the four boats now in convoy we dodged the ferries and the trip boats as we made our way west along the Nordzee canal towards the unimaginatively titled Zeekanal C which leads to Haarlem. Two bridges on this section were easily high enough for us all to clear with just our aerials folded down and we radioed the Spaarndam lock and confirmed it would open for our arrival. Again, no apparent change of water level here, but an opportunity to collect €3,50 in sluisgeld from each boat.

From here it was just a mile to Haarlemsche Jacht Club, a mile north of the city but a more pleasant rural setting for our two night stay then the dusty town centre moorings., We enjoyed our first evening all together with an on-board barbeque, with three of the boats now proud owners of the very efficient George Foreman outdoor grills. Happily we have planned a more relaxed schedule for this cruise and we were pleased to have a lay day after eleven days of cruising.

Having visited Haarlem before we didn't feel obliged to do the rounds of the historical museums so on a sunny, Sunday afternoon we did as the Dutch do and went for a cycle ride in the dune park. Our first stop was at the Ruine van Brederode, a 13th century baron's castle, ravaged by the Spaniards in 1573 during the siege of Haarlem, and partly restored in the 19th century. From here we picked up the Nordzee Cycle Way, the whole of which seems to cover much of the Dutch coast. We tackled only a fraction and after passing a Commonwealth War Graves site we headed back to the city and enjoyed a welcome break in the shadow of St Bavo's church in the Grote Markt.

As usual the city had organised a festival to coincide with our arrival and today was Haarlemmer Hout, a festival of world music and food in the town park. The hot weather had brought out the crowds, who becaming increasingly the worse for sun and beer as the afternoon progressed.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 28 nm

Total to date: 1353 nm

Avg Speed: 5.6 knots

Duration: 5:30 hours

Diesel: 25 litres

Mooring: €13/night

Electricity: €1/night

Water: Included

Locks

Oranjesluizen

Spaarndam

Bridges

Schellingwouderbrug (7m)

Buitenhuizen (6m)

Rijksweg A9 (6.5)

Spaarndam lock (lift)

Charts

1810.5

1810.3

1810.2

ANWB G