Best Areas To Hire A Boat In Loosdrecht
Short trips to Loosdrecht are perfect for exploring the main lakes at Oud-Loosdrecht while the canals that connect to Maarssen can be used to explore more of the Dutch Lake District using Boomhoek or Hilversum as a base.
Oud-Loosdrecht
Conveniently placed for access to the Loosdrechtse Plassen, Oud-Loosdrecht is an ideal base for boat hire in Loosdrecht. While the five lakes are distinctive, they're generally referred to as one whole: ‘Loosdrechtse Plassen’, as they are connected by a series of canals and waterways. For further exploration, the Loosdrechtse Plassen links to the River Vecht via the Mijndense Sluis, making it perfect as a base for longer journeys.
Boomhoek
Boomhoek acts as a leafy starting point for entry to the lakes, with quays and holiday homes, stitched onto the banks, many with private moorings, perfect for multi-day boat hires.
Hilversum
Hilversum is one of the largest urban areas in the Gooi: an area to the east of Loosdrecht, known for large holiday villas, the affluence of its inhabitants and the relative (to most of the Netherlands) hilliness of the countryside. Explore the area with a boat and link to the lakes via the tree-lined Hilversun Canal, or visit the delightful little village of Naarden and its iconic star-shaped moats.
Maarssen
Just a short journey south along the Utrechtse Vecht river, Maarssen (between Maarseen and Utrecht) offers idyllic villages, imposing castles and numerous options for docking, whether for languid lakeside lunches or to see the sights of the countryside. Rent a boat in Maarssen and you can follow the river south until you reach Utrecht, or keep north and join the glistening expanse of the lakes via numerous connecting canals.