Sea Kayaking Around the Netherlands on Wetdawg.com

Launching from Den Helder on August 11th, Axel Schoevers and Nico Middlekoop will sea kayak 1250 km around the Netherlands, starting along the North Sea coast, and then exploring the country's scenic inland waters including the Rhine and Meuse.

Latest Updates
Check out their progress by listening to their voice mails. Just click on the WAV file and listen! (Note: recording may falter if on a low-speed dial-up)

August 11th: Axel and Nico departed from Den Helder in dense fog and paddled 33 miles on their first day...(45 seconds)

August 12th: The pair encountered rough conditions and force 5 winds. A "nerve-wracking" day...(60 seconds)

August 13th: Axel and Nico are near Zeeland and were rewarded with clear skies...(47 seconds)

August 14th: A radio and television crew awaited the pair at their destination...(50 seconds)

August 15th: Axel and Nico's interview was broadcasted and people are recognizing them along the way...(50 seconds)

August 16th: They have left the sea and will spend the next few weeks paddling the country's inland waterways...(50 seconds)

August 17th: Axel and Nico took their first shower in weeks, and are paddling a swift 7.5km per hour...(50 seconds)

August 18th: They made 50 km today and negotiated a myriad of locks, sometimes waiting up 30 minutes...(50 seconds)

August 19th: Axel and Nico are near the Belgium border after another day of negotiating locks...(63 seconds)

August 20th: Still in Belgium, Axel and Nico paddled with the local canoe club, and kept a tiring 8.5 km per hour pace...(87 seconds)

August 21st: Axel and Nico are now on the River Muse and at the southern-most point of their trip...(63 seconds)

August 22nd: Today, the pair encountered bad currents and near-misses with rocks...(57 seconds)

August 24th: The pair only made 20km, fighting upstream currents, before camping with a bottle of wine...(68 seconds)

August 25th: Axel and Nico connected to River Isle and with the help of fast currents, are now nearing Germany...(75 seconds)

August 26th: The local rowing club provided Axel and Nico with dinner and a place to spend the night...(54 seconds)

August 27th: Axel and Nico found themselves negotiating locks filled with big cargo ships...(90 seconds)

August 28th: A frustrating day spent making many portages around obstructions...(58 seconds)

August 29th: Last day paddling this waterway. Axel and Nico were forced to wait for the tide to rise for the canal to be deep enough to paddle...(66 seconds)

August 30th: Axel & Nico are still in Germany, paddling choppy waters with the wind blowing against the tide...(66 seconds)

August 31st: After a rough channel crossing, Axel & Nico camp on a sandspit despite fears of being flooded at high tide...(75 seconds)

September 1st: Axel & Nico fight the largest waves ever experienced in the area...(68 seconds)

September 2nd: The pair left before low-tide, trying to use the currents to their advantage...(75 seconds)

September 3rd: After a late start, Axel & Nico visit a famous lighthouse...(45 seconds)

September 4th: Only a few days away from completing their trip, Axel & Nico are confident in their navigation...(47 seconds)

September 5th: Axel & Nico take their first rest day of the trip to avoid bad tides...(50 seconds)

September 6th: Rounding the northwest point of the Netherlands, Axel & Nico completed their circumnavigation today..."A great adventure..."(50 seconds)

Axel began sea kayaking in 1994 and that year, completed a 21 day solo paddle from his hometown of Rijswijk to the tidal harbor of Noordpolderzijl, a 650 km journey. He has since paddled the Isle of Mull, Shetland, Alaska, German Bight, Islay and Outer Hebrides.

Nico started out whitewater kayaking, playing on the rivers of France, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia and Nepal. In 1997, he began sea kayaking with trips in the Netherland's Zeeland estuaries and Waddenzee. He has since explored Wales, Scotland, and Australia by sea kayak.

Itinerary
Stage 1: Den Helder - Flushing (230 km)
This is the most exposed part on the entire trip. There is always a chance of shore break. This poses risks on launching and landing through surf with our heavy laden sea kayaks. We have to pass the busy Port of Rotterdam. On the Westerschelde, commercial shipping will be something to look out for.

Part 2: Flushing - Maastricht (145 or 325 km)
Here we have to make a difficult decision. The shortest route to Maastricht is via Antwerp along the Albert canal through Belgium. An alternative route passes through Zeeland, Brabant and than still partly through Belgium; more than twice the distance. Maybe we will toss a Dutch or Belgian euro coin.

Part 3: Maastricht - Arnhem (200 km)
After the weir at Lixhe the Meuse starts as a stretch of 'unnavigable' 'Border Meuse', but a sea kayak needs only little water. We follow the beautiful meandering Meuse to Nijmegen. A short stretch against the current of the Rhine will bring us to the border of Germany and after that Arnhem.

Part 4: Arnhem - Dollard (250 km)
The IJssel is a very familiar river for us. This is the route of the annual Veluwe Rally. This one-day 35, 50 or 100 km race is a challenge for any paddler in kayak or canoe. Unwillingly we leave the IJssel just above Zutphen to take the Twente canal that brings us close to the border of Germany and to the Dollard tidal estuary in northeast Groningen.

Part 5: Dollard - Den Helder (220 km)
The exact route now is highly dependant on tides, weather and sea state. This part requires knowledge and experience in paddling and navigating the tidal waters of the Waddenzee with it's 'wantij', currents, channels and tidal flats. Weather and tide permitting, a route along the outside coast of the islands is preferred.