Sailing area Vinkeveen Puddels

Sailing on the Vinkeveen Puddles

The Vinkeveen Puddles is a popular water sports area because of its versatility and central location. Characteristic for the Vinkeveen Puddles are the small islands and the ring of 12 sandy islands. Sailing and motorboating are the main activities on the North and South Puddles, followed by slooping, canoeing and whisper boating. The South Puddle offers a water ski area as the only fast boating zone exclusively for practicing this sport. If you want to rent a boat on the Vinkeveen Puddles, you can contact the boat rental company for tips on the best routes to enjoy nature and recreation to the fullest.

Recreation on the sandy islands in Vinkeveen

The large sand islands are ideal for daytime recreation. A maximum of 3 times 24 hours mooring is allowed. In the summer it is pleasantly busy here and the sandy beaches are filled with water sports enthusiasts. Island 1, 2, 4 and 5 can be reached via a fixed shore connection. Parking facilities are also available here. Island 1 also has a catering pavilion. Islands 3 and 6 to 11 are only accessible by boat.

Sailing on and around the Vinkeveen Puddles

Most marinas can be found on the side of the Baambrugse Zuwe and Achterbos. Here you will also find nice restaurants. From the Vinkeveen Puddles there are nice trips to sail, for example a 'round trip Mijdrecht' via the Kromme Mijdrecht, the Amstel and the Oude Waver. But also a spectacular cruise from the Vinkeveen Puddles in the direction of the Angstel. At the Demmerik lock there is a gradient of 1.70 which brings you up towards the Angstel. Here you can sail in the direction of Baambrugge or cross the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal towards the Vecht or the Loosdrechtse Plassen.

Diving and waterskiing

Because of the sand extraction and the clear water, the Vinkeveen Puddles are extremely suitable for diving. There is also a dive school located near Island 4. Since 2011 there is an old city bus in the water for diving exercises, one of the most famous diving objects in the Netherlands.
In the period from 1 May to 1 October it is also possible to water-ski on the Vinkeveen Puddles with an exemption. In the South Puddle there is a waterski track with a length of 1000 meters and a width of 150 meters. Fast boating is not allowed on the Vinkeveen Puddles, except on the waterski track. There are restrictions on length, type and noise production for the boats that are allowed.

History of the Vinkeveen Puddles

The Vinkeveen Puddles originated from peat extraction for Amsterdam around the 19th century. In the 50s to 70s the North Puddle was used for sand extraction for the construction of the A2 motorway and the construction of Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Because of this sand extraction the Puddles are deep and have very clear water. The deepest point is therefore 40 metres(!). In addition to sand extraction for these projects, the sand was also used to spray up sand islands to protect the surroundings and banks.