South Holland

Rent a boat in South-Holland

As the Netherlands' most densely populated province, you might expect Zuid-Holland (South Holland) to lack personality. But nothing could be further from the truth: Rotterdam's vast marina and its colourful modernity provide the big-city grit, Leiden overflows with charms in its stunning, canal-filled old town, while the Hague offers appealing museums and a thriving restaurant scene. Hire a motorboat on De Rijn in lovely Leiden. Explore one of the world's largest marinas in a skippered ship in Rotterdam or sail to the ancient port of Dordrecht in a cabin cruiser to see its beautiful old town and the windmills of the Kinderdijk.

Hiring A Boat In Zuid-Holland

Boat rental in Zuid-Holland has so much to offer boaters, whether new to the water or seasoned captains. You'll find everything from canal boats and spacious tenders, perfect for lazy days exploring historic Leiden or the canals of the Nationaal Park de Biesbosch, to fully skippered yachts and practical cabin cruisers perfect for city breaks in Rotterdam and extended breaks along the inland-waterways.

Plentiful moorings are available in all the major hubs of Zuid-Holland, such as Rotterdam, Leiden and The Hague, and there are various marinas on the fringes of nature parks and besides flowery rivers should you prefer somewhere a little more bucolic to bed down for the evening.

Explore Zuid-Holland By Renting A Boat

Arguably, the highlight of Zuid-Holland is Leiden, a university town with a grid of canals adorned with 88 bridges at its heart and impressive antique buildings that look formidable from the water. But begin your journey just a little further north in Lisse to see the renowned Keukenhof garden and its enormous landscape of tulips. Leiden is accessible by the water so arrange for an overnight stay in the marina, or moor for the day in the ornate centre before sailing to the stunning Joppe lake for watersports and camping.

For tours of Zuid Holland, the pretty little town of Gouda is a must stop and it's a short journey for travellers arriving from Leiden. Visit in the summer to see the Gouda cheese market take over the city square with round, impossibly yellow wheels of Gouda displayed atop the cobbles. The town is easy enough to explore on foot or bike, and small and medium-sized boats can moor at the Turfsingel, the Gouwe, and the IJsselkade, while anyone sailing a historic ship can moor at the Museum Harbour with the permission of the harbour master. If you're hungering for a slice of the big city then Rotterdam's modernist architecture should be more than enough to sate your hunger, and a tour of Europe's largest marina is a must. In the summer months, Dordrecht's ancient port and its location just outside of Rotterdam, and close to the windmills of the Kinderdijk makes it a good base for exploration away from the busy centre.

Each year for two weeks before King's Day, King's Kermis takes over the Malieveld in The Hague, making it a popular spot for pre-King's Day celebrations, while April's Bollenstreek BloemenCorso brings a 40 km flower parade through Noordwijk, Leiden and Haarlem. For summer travellers, the Summer Carnival in Rotterdam brings a street parade through the city centre with colourful floats that celebrate Latin-Caribbean culture.

Best Areas To Hire A Boat In Zuid-Holland

With their proximity to national parks and county-crossing canals, towns like Leiden and Dordrecht make good bases to explore Zuid-Holland. Rotterdam, and its access to Kralingse Lake and Delfshaven, is the best choice for boaters who want to mix a vibrant big city trip with a more sedate countryside adventure.

Leiden Old Town

With its elegant townhouses, ornate bridges over narrow canals, and iconic Dutch windmills, Leiden's old town is ideal for day-long boat rentals. From the old town, the beautiful Kagerplassen lake is just a short sail north and is a popular spot for fishing, camping and walking.

Delft

Delft's canals are crowned by endearing bridges decorated with flower baskets and bookended by a sublime amalgam of medieval and Golden Age architecture. Hire an electric motorboat in Delft or jump aboard a skippered tour boat to see its sights in less than an hour, and then follow the Schiedamse Schie canal to Schiedam.

Dordrecht

Sat on the outskirts of the Nationaal Park de Biesbosch and close to the windmills of the Kinderdijk, Dordrecht makes a perfect base for boaters hoping to explore a picturesque combination of Holland's antique old town charms and its idyllic countryside.

Types Of Boats To Hire

Small open top leisure boats are the most popular rental boat options throughout Zuid-Holland. Particularly in cities and large towns such as Rotterdam and Dordrecht. Canal Cruisers make a perfect option for travelling further afield to hamlets like Oudewater and Gouda.

Loungeboats

Loungeboats offer a relaxing option for seeing the sights of cities such as Rotterdam. They are most often self-driven, with converted seating, comfortable enough for a day's sailing and with more than enough room for groups.

Cabin Cruiser

Whether sailing out of Warmond, Delfshaven or Nootdorp, Cabin Cruisers, with amenities such as onboard bathrooms, spacious living areas and bedrooms (with enough sleeping space for small to medium groups), are an ideal option for sailing the waterways of Zuid-Holland.

Tender

A practical collection of repurposed tenders, good for larger groups, are available to hire along the canals of Leiden and Rotterdam. They're a good choice for anyone watching their eco-footprint as they are often powered by electric motors, and are available to hire with or without a skipper.

Do you need a licence to hire a boat in Zuid-Holland

Most boat hires are small pleasure crafts designed for laidback exploration of Holland's canals (which mostly have 12km speed limits), so you do not need a license to hire a boat in Zuid-Holland.

For big and fast vessels like speedboats, you’ll need a small, medium or large watercraft licence, while residents of the EU, the UK and other non-EU countries will require at least an ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft).

Best Times To Hire

Generally speaking, temperatures are a little warmer in Zuid-Holland when compared to Noord-Holland, but the best time to hire a boat remains more or less the same. In the spring and summer, a moderate warmth accentuated by colourful flora, makes boating the lakes and canals a pleasure, while in the winter, you'll need covered or heated options to enjoy your time on the water.

It rains throughout the year, but it can be difficult to predict when, so pack accordingly. And while winters sailing around cities such as Rotterdam can be fun, the canals can sometimes freeze over, leading to cancellations.

How much does it cost to hire a boat

Sloops, dinghies and canoes are available throughout Zuid-Holland for less than €20 an hour, but if you'd like to hire a boat with an engine, then small motorboats begin at €25 an hour. Bear in mind that many motorboats have a minimum rental period of 2-4 hours but the price decreases over time, making it more economical for longer boat hires: from €65 for four hours for a small wooden motorboat for example.

Large cabin cruisers with kitchens, living spaces and multiple berths are the most expensive, with some larger boats costing as much as €845 for three days. But with enough space for six people, this could be a good, frugal option for those travelling in larger groups.