WV De Merwede at Gorinchem proved a convenient base for researching the Linge and the remainder of the Lek but after two hot car-based days we were ready to get back to the water and with a forecast for a warm weekend we headed for the last great Dutch wilderness, the Biesbosch. Formed by the great flood of 1421 this is now an area of creeks and marshland which have been left largely unspoilt, and the shallow channels regularly catch out unsuspecting boaters. Fortunately, although the detailed Biesbosch charts had been delayed along with all the ANWB new editions for this year, we had opted to take advantage of the Great Rivers electronic chart which has good coverage of the whole area. This proved invaluable, not only for showing the detailed channels, but in identifying our position in a landscape otherwise low on landmarks.

We stopped first at Werkendam, a small village at the north east entrance to the area, and then cruised on to stop at the Biesbosch Museum moorings overnight. These are short stay for visitors only but as we were waiting for it to open we figured that counted. The moorings are next door to the outdoor section of the museum and we could walk amongst the osier beds and stacks of willow in the muggy evening air. A visit to the museum next morning revealed a deeply held resistance to the forthcoming opening of the Haringvliet, which will increase the tidal variation in the Biesbosch significantly, and has displaced half of the existing farming population. Duly informed we continued on to the yachthaven at Spieringsluis, where owner Andre Oversteeg and tour guide & wildlife photographer Marco de Paauw, helped us understand more about the area. From here we cruised down the Nieuwe Merwede, which divides the Biesbosch in two, and stopped next at Lage Zwaluwe, on the south side of the Amer. The chandlers here is the main attraction, part of the Nautic-Ring franchise they have everything you could want (except the right colour fender socks). The only down side to a convenient mooring on the fuel berth was the constant wash from the jetskis who zoom in and out all evening until they run out of fuel.

Sunday was another scorcher but further redesign was needed on our air-conditioning installation and the neighbouring chandlers was again called into use. By evening we were ready to move on and decided to cross the Amer to the relative sanctity of JH Visserhang, in the Aarkvlaai area of the Biesbosch. This is a new, and somewhat artifical area, but the yachthaven predates it and offered a peaceful and comfortable berth on another very warm night.

Cruising Statistics

Distance (inland): 29nm

Total to date: 488 nm

Avg Speed: 4.3kn

Duration: 6:45hrs

Diesel: 40 ltrs

Mooring: Free in the Biesbosch; €10/night at Lage Zwaluwe & Visserhang

Electricity:
N/A at Biesbosch;
Included elsewhere

Water:
N/A at Biesbosch;
Included elsewhere

Charts

ANWB Grote Rivieren (electronic)

Locks

Biesbochsluis at Werkendam

Spieringsluis

Bridges

1 opening