Sneek

Rent a boat in Sneek

Sneek is a beautiful place in Friesland. Rent one of the many different types of boats here and discover Sneek's beautiful nature and stunning surroundings.

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Hire a boat in Sneek

Sneek sailing

Sneek's (mostly) traffic-free centre is at its best on the nexus of colliding waterways that feed into the city: De Geeuw flowing in from flowery IJlst in the southwest, the Houkesleat River travelling east to the Sneekermeer lake and a variety of canals heading north. In the pretty town, the rivers and canals collide into the Stadsgracht, the loop of canals that forms a series of moats around the antique city centre, providing idyllic flower-adorned waterways, best explored by motorboat, or a yacht if you intend to sail out onto the serene northern lakes.

Hiring A Boat In Sneek


Boats for all skill levels are available, with skippered options for those who want something more substantial, but without the added responsibility. The most common options are the cabin cruisers and sailing boats that line the waterways of Sneek, while the wind-puffed sails of hundreds of yachts are a common sight out on the Sneekermeer lake.



Mooring options are ubiquitous around the city and if you're renting a villa, a house, or most other holiday homes, you'll no doubt have a private berth right on your doorstep.

Explore Sneek By Renting A Boat


As the watersports capital of Friesland , Sneek has so much to offer water lovers. The town centre is a highly explorable maze of canals and redbrick streets with lush trees branching over the water and busy terraces huddled up to the canal bank. It's like a little Amsterdam in places but with fewer crowds and more sailing yachts. City centre sights such as the Frisian Maritime Museum offer invaluable insight into Frisia's waterlogged history, while the Waterpoort is a towering canal gate so iconic that it has been recreated in Legoland and Tokyo, and stands testament to Sneek's past as an important stop on the Leeuwarden/ Stavoren trade route.



Sailers should follow the Houkesleat River to Offingawier and the Sneekermeer lake to sample its excellent water skiing and wakeboarding. But equally, Sneek is a great base or starting point to explore the rest of Friesland, sailing to De Alde Feanen National Park, the Groote Breken, and the Slotermeer. As Friesland is 40% water, it's possible to explore almost all of it by boat, but certain areas, such as the Wadden Sea are only suitable for experienced boaters, so it's best to take a tour or a manned yacht.



The brilliantly named Sneekweek has morphed from its origins as a sailing competition into Europe's largest inland sailing event. Each August hundreds of boats take to the water and launch the event under a blaze of fireworks, and Sneekweek culminates with the Holland-Friesland Rainbow-class boat race between the Frisians and the Dutch. In between

this, markets line the streets of the old town, and partygoers take to boats across Sneek to celebrate. And it gets *very* busy. In winter the 11 Cities Tour takes place with ice skaters taking to the frozen canals of Friesland: skating through Sneek, Sloten, Dokkum and others.

Best Areas To Hire A Boat In Sneek


The centre of Sneek, with its historic charm and small-town atmosphere accentuated by warm lights shimmering atop the water in the evening, is a sublime spot for a boat rental. But if you're looking for a lakeside holiday, then Offingawier has direct lake access, tonnes of boats to choose from and easy access to the canals that feed into Sneek.



Sneek Binnenstad


Hire a boat in Sneek centre to explore the inland waterways that radiate from the town. Explore the Binnenstad from the canals to see the delightful architecture like the Watergate, which looks like a miniature castle rising from the water (and is the only one left of four), and the Fortuna’s Fountain, one of 11 fountains (in honour of the 11 Cities Tour) that adorn towns throughout Friesland.



Offingawier


With charming houseboats and modern villas perched directly on the water, Offingawier, spilling out onto the shores of the lake between the villages Terhorne and Goingarijp, is an ideal option for a watersports holiday in Friesland.

Types Of Boats To Hire


Yachts big and small are available across Friesland and Sneek, but smaller vessels like Tenders and motorboats are perhaps better for exploring the town. And cabin cruisers are ideal for a laidback family holiday on the Frisian lakes.



Electric Yachts



Perfect for small groups and families, electric sailing yachts with multiple berths and homely lounges are sublime on the Frisian lakes. But if you don't how to sail, simply select a skippered yacht for languid journeys with a local guide to help you make the most of your time.



Electric Motorboats


Small motorboats are best for casually exploring Sneek's waterways. Hire a boat within the Binnenstad and you can sail around the charming old town, and perhaps indulge in a beer or two as the sun begins to set. Most motorboats can be rented by the hour, making them both economical and convenient.



Cabin Cruiser


With modern onboard amenities and bedrooms enough for small groups, cabin cruisers are the perfect choice for weekend trips and weeklong holidays exploring the towns, canals and waterways of the northern Netherlands.



Tenders


Day trippers looking for an accessible route onto the water should consider renting a tender. Perfect for short trips as well as for jaunts out onto the lake for swimming, Tenders also make a good choice for small groups in search of a relaxed skippered boat ride around Sneek.



Sailing Yachts


Sailing yachts are exceptionally popular in Freilsand and come in all shapes and sizes but are only suitable for sailors with a good amount of experience in their sails. But you don't need to know how to sail to rent a yacht, as skippered and fully crewed options are available for hire in Sneek.

Do you need a licence to hire a boat in Sneek


Whether hiring a cabin cruiser or a (small) yacht, licences aren't a requirement in Sneek. As per local law, you'll only need a license when you hire or sail a larger vessel in the Netherlands. The cut off for a license is a length of 15m and a boat that can reach speeds of 20 kilometres an hour.



A Klein Vaarbewijs or an equivalent such as an ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft) covers most rental boat uses.

Best Times To Hire


Warm weather seekers should avoid the cold wet winter months in Sneek. Aim for June to September for the best weather, when it's warm and comfortable, though the Frisian winds bring the average temperature down a couple of degrees lower than Amsterdam and the rest of Holland.

Travellers hoping to dive into the water should visit Sneek in August when the average temperates finally break into the twenties.

How much does it cost to hire a boat


Little motorboats start from as little as €15 an hour, surf sets for windsurfing can be hired for €40 for half a day, and single-masted sailing sloops start from €35 for four hours on the water.



Yachts and cabin cruisers tend to be the most expensive boat hires in Sneek, and they are hirable by the hour but are most economical when hired for a day or more as the costs are incrementally less, starting from €18 an hour if hired for multiple days.

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Boat rental in Sneek