Our IJsselmeer circuit ended in Medemblik which we had chosen as our winter quarters for 2022/23. We had stopped by in summer beforehand and liked the town and the harbour. Our neighbours, who lived aboard their boat here all year round, assured us that it was well suited.
🧭 Where exactly?
⚓ Why Medemblik is suitable as a winter berth
As a winter berth in the Netherlands, the town is a good choice. Pekelharinghafen is easy to access and lies right in the centre. Since in winter you get a well-located berth for a boat that is actually being used, the sanitary buildings with toilets, showers and washing machines/dryers are very close by. There is no swell in the harbour basin. Because of the flat topography in the Netherlands, you almost never get proper shelter from the wind. But on the first pontoon we lay with our bow facing the prevailing westerly wind, so even stronger wind was not a major problem. Only the transport connections are not ideal. For trips towards Germany, you first have to get to Amsterdam (around 1 hour by bus) and then continue from there by bus or plane.
⛵Pekelharinghafen (052° 46.285′ N 005° 06.793′ E)
In our view, Pekelharinghafen is the best suited of all three town harbours as a winter berth.
Pros
- The service facilities are okay and close to the berth (in winter, boats that are being used can be placed along the quay by the castle or in the boxes on the first pontoon). So you are close to the sanitary facilities.
- The harbour basin is well protected.
- A very nice harbour team is on site during office hours and is also willing, for example, to accept a parcel now and then.
- Nearby (around 15 minutes on foot) there is a car petrol station. The boat fuel station in Oosterhaven was too expensive for us.
- In 2023 there were a few liveaboard boats. Heel gezellig! 😊
Cons
- In 2023 electricity was quite expensive because of the war in Ukraine (75 cents per kWh), although that seems to have settled down again in the meantime.
- There is a water tap only along the quay, and even there only with a long hose. We fetched our water in canisters because we did not like lying along the quay as much as being in a box berth.
💶 Berth costs
- Electricity connection and consumption: €150 per month.
- Diesel around €200 per month. Because of the high electricity prices, we heated almost exclusively with the Webasto.
- Berth €90 per month for 11 m.
Saling in the Netherlands
Discover our tips for sailing on the IJsselmeer and Markermeer as well as in the Waddenzee. We have also put together tips for life on board.
