Sailing area Groningen

Discover Groningen from the water

The waters of Groningen offer many beautiful sailing routes through lakes and canals. Discover the beautiful city of Groningen, but also the various lakes and waterways through the province of Groningen. Through YachtFocus Boat Rental you can rent a boat that suits your boating needs. Choose, for example, a motor yacht or sailing yacht for a sailing holiday in the sailing area of Groningen. You can also rent a tender, sailboat or motorboat to discover the beautiful villages and nature reserves.

Lakes in Groningen

In the province of Groningen several lakes are easy to reach and navigate. The most famous lakes are Lauwersmeer, Oldambtmeer, Zuidlaardermeer, Leekstermeer, Schildmeer and Paterswoldsemeer.

Lauwersmeer

The Lauwersmeer with a surface area of 24 km² is known for its location between Groningen and Friesland. Adjacent to the Wadden Sea, this is the most northerly lake in the Netherlands. Because of this location, the Lauwersmeer is popular among sailors and holiday sailors to easily reach the Wadden Sea. From Lauwersoog, the Wadden island of Schiermonnikoog can be reached quickly. The Lauwersmeer is a National Park. Since the separation of the Wadden Sea in 1969, the Lauwersmeer has been transformed into a unique nature reserve and is therefore very popular with nature lovers. For water sports enthusiasts, the Lauwersmeer is particularly popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. It is also an attractive sailing area for motorboats, tenders and sailing boats.

Oldambtmeer

Sailing on the Oldambtmeer is suitable for small sailboats and open motorboats. The depth of the lake is on average 1.30 meters. This limited draught, which is also variable throughout the year, makes this lake difficult to access for large motorboats and sailboats. Due to the limited clearance of the surrounding bridges, access for these yachts is also prevented. The lake was created in 2006 from the Blauwestad project. From the Oldambtmeer the lakes Zuidlaardermeer, Schildmeer and Paterswoldsemeer are easy to reach.

Zuidlaardermeer

The name Zuidlaardermeer reveals that it lies to the south of the province of Groningen. Part of this lake belongs to the province of Drenthe. The lake has a surface area of 21 km² and is about one meter deep. Despite this limited draught, this sailing area is popular with sailors. The area around the Zuidlaardermeer is characterized by the landscapes that make both Groningen and Drenthe unique, with a view over meadows and polder areas to the forests of Drenthe. Via the Drentsche Diep you can take a sailing trip to the heart of Groningen, a fun day out in the bustling city centre!

Leekstermeer

The Leekstermeer lies west of the city of Groningen. The border between the province of Groningen and Drenthe runs exactly along the Leekstermeer. The confusion is caused by shifting the provincial border. Whereas the Leekstermeer belonged to the province of Groningen until 1990, the lake is now entirely within the province of Drenthe. This relatively shallow lake with a surface area of 3.35 km² is only suitable for small pleasure craft. Its location in 'De Onlanden' nature reserve makes the Leekstermeer very suitable for canoeing or windsurfing.

Schildmeer

To the west of Delfzijl lies the Schildmeer. Delfzijl and Groningen can easily be reached from the Schildmeer by sailing from the Groeve-Zuid to the Eemskanaal. The Wadden Sea and the Eems estuary are also directly accessible via the drainage canal. The lake has a surface area of 2.84 km² and is approximately 1.5 meters deep.

Paterswoldsemeer

On the border of Groningen and Drenthe lies the Paterswoldsemeer. The Paterswoldsemeer lies between the Zuidlaardermeer and Leekstermeer, almost directly under the city of Groningen. With a surface area of 2.7 km², this lake is also very popular with sailors. In the lake you can find several islands for recreation. The lake and the islands were originated by peat extraction in the 17th century.

Sailing routes in Groningen

Groningen offers numerous sailing routes set out by the province or by local marinas and boat rental companies. Famous short routes are Round trip Groningen or Round trip Blauwestad, ideal for day leisure activities. There are several long sailing routes available for a sailing holiday in Groningen. These routes cross the province, but you can also choose to visit the Frisian Lakes, the Wadden Sea or the IJsselmeer. Click here for an overview of sailing routes in Groningen.
A well-known sailing route in Groningen for professional and pleasure sailing is the Standing Mast Route. In Delfzijl is the start or final destination of the Standing Mast Route (SMR). The SMR runs from Delfzijl to Breskens in Zeeland. This route is very suitable for a long boating holiday to discover other sailing areas of the Netherlands.