Today's passage was a means to an end, the end being Groningen where we promised ourselves a lay day if we made it there in one go. The route would take us along the Prinses Margriet Kanaal and the Van Starkenborgh canal, the M1 of the north east Netherlands, which is a popular route for the commercial barges. The 50 or so miles was rather an optimistic target but with most of the bridges high enough for us to pass straight under and the rest lifting or swinging on approach there was little to delay us. By lunchtime a persistent drizzle had set in and even mooring up for a lunch stop at Grouw did not appeal. We were mystified by the operation of the Terherne Sluis, whose gates closed as we entered the chamber, and then just as mysteriously opened again to let us pass. The lowlight of the trip was probably locking through Gaarkeuken sluis in pouring rain but at 190m long there was plenty of room for us to tuck in behind two barges and we did not have to wait.

In the Friese Meren region there was a host of sailing boats making the best of the Whit Holiday but once we got past Leeuwarden we had only the barges for company. In this stretch, fixed bridges limit the headroom to 6.7 metres so yachts have to take the longer route via Leeuwarden, the Dokkumer Ee, the Lauwersmeer and then through the centre of Groningen with its multiple bridge convoy. Our much quicker route took us just north of the city to the junction of the Van Starkenborgh canal with the Eems canal, just one kilometre east of the town centre visitors moorings. Our arrival at the Oosterhaven bridge at 6.55pm would normally have been just in time for a last bridge through but on holidays the last convoy leaves in this direction at 16.00 so we had to content ourselves with a night on the waiting quay.

The next morning we slipped through the bridge and took advantage of the free water and 10A electricity to catch up on some washing and then made our first outing on our new bikes to tour the city. The perkily branded Tourist Office ("Er gaat niets boven Groningen") was able to provide an ample range of maps, guides and walking tours in English and we forewent the personally guided tour for our own brand of cycle tour. Although the city's main attraction is the modern Groninger Museum with its deconstructed architecture and feature tiled staircase, we opted for the 251 step climb to the top of the Martini Tower.

From here the panaromic view took in the Stadhuis and Grote Markt, where the annual fair was taking place, as well as in the background the Goudkantoor (gold office) and the new Waagstraat complex, completed in 1996 in the style of the old city. On the south side of the square the historic facades remain but the buildings to the north and east were destroyed in the struggle for liberation in 1945 and have been replaced by modern equivalents.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 50 nm

Total to date: 429 nm

Avg Speed: 6 knots

Duration: 7: 30 hours

Diesel: 46 litres

Mooring: €14/night

Electricity: Included

Water: Included

Bridges

Flevobrug (lift)
Zijlroedebrug (lift)
Spannenbrug (7m)
Uitwellingerga (7.15m)
Oude Schouw (7.15m)
Grouw rail (7.15m)
Fonejacht (7.15m)
Burgumerdam (7.3m)
Schuilenbrug (swing)
Kootstertille (7.3m)
Blauwverlaat (7.3m)
Stroobos (swing)
Eibersburen (6.65m)
Gaarkeuken lock (lift)
Zuidhorn rail (6.7m)
Zuidhorn road (lift)
Aduard (lift)
Dorkwerd (lift)
Paddepoelster (swing)
Noorderhoge rail (9.5m)
Noorderhoge road (6.9m)
Korreweg foot (6.8m)
Korreweg road (swing)
Korreweg foot 2 (6.8m)
Groningen (7m)

Locks

Terherne

Gaarkeuken

Groningen Oostersluis

Charts

ANWB A & B