Bridges Between Vlissingen and Middelburg
Between Vlissingen (often mistakenly called Vlissingham) and Middelburg, in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands, there is a canal known as the Kanaal door Walcheren. This canal connects Vlissingen on the southern coast with Middelburg and further to Veere and the Veerse Meer.
There are three main lifting (bascule or swing) bridges between Vlissingen and Middelburg that are relevant for a yacht with a mast:
- Keersluisbrug (Vlissingen)
- Located near the entrance to the Kanaal door Walcheren in Vlissingen.
- It is a lifting bridge with a tidal lock underneath (Keersluis).
- Access to the Kanaal begins here.
- Sasbrug (Vlissingen)
- A swing bridge near the Keersluisbrug, just further inland.
- Opens regularly for pleasure craft.
- Spoorbrug Middelburg (Railway Bridge)
- A lifting bridge located just before Middelburg.
- One of the more critical bridges, as it serves a train line.
- Opens on a strict schedule coordinated with train timetables.
How a Yacht with a Mast Navigates the Route
- Arrival at Keersluis Vlissingen
- You enter via the tidal lock (Keersluis).
- Monitor VHF Channel 18 for communication.
- You may need to wait in a holding area for the lock and bridge.
- Bridge Openings
- The bridges along the Kanaal door Walcheren operate in convoy, meaning they open successively for groups of boats.
- There is a bridge operator in control of all the relevant bridges, usually following a published schedule.
- Most bridges operate from roughly 08:30 to 18:00, with lunch breaks around 12:00–13:00. Times may vary depending on the season.
- Some bridges require advance booking during off-season or outside scheduled times.
- Bridge Coordination
- The bridge operator coordinates the convoy of boats, usually starting from Vlissingen.
- Once the first bridge opens, you’ll proceed slowly through the canal, with each bridge opening in turn as you approach.
- Maintain VHF communication (usually channel 18 or 22) and follow the convoy leader if present.
- Speed and Behaviour
- Maximum speed is generally 6 to 9 km/h (3 to 5 knots) depending on local signs.
- You must be aware of other canal traffic, including commercial barges.
- Keep fenders out and lines ready for waiting at bridges or locks.
- Middelburg Arrival
- You’ll find mooring spots along the canal near Middelburg town centre.
- Middelburg has good facilities for visiting yachts.
Tips for Mast-Height Vessels
- All bridges open for mast-height vessels, so there’s no need to lower the mast on this stretch.
- It’s a popular route for yachts heading to/from the Veerse Meer or the Scheldt Estuary.
- Download the Vaarweginformatie.nl app or visit their website to get the latest bridge opening times.
The above is an update curtesy of ChatGPT 29/03/25
Middelburg Town
Middelburg is a delightful town with all the facilities you could need. The Albert Heijn supermarket is a fair walk from the marina.
We sorted out our mobile data sim here and once again vodafone has the best deal but data is still very expensive here in Holland. We pay €17 per gig but after 30 days you can top-up with another gig for €10 but you can only buy the bundle every 30 days so we bought 2 of them.
