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RadioNetherlands changes many VHF channels

Andreas Fritsch

 · 28.09.2022

Radio: Netherlands changes many VHF channelsPhoto: Nils Günter/YACHT
Important in the Netherlands: radio contact with locks and bridges
Due to the reservation of many channels for digital radio, many of the usual VHF channels for bridges, locks and traffic centres in Holland are currently being converted

This is due to recent decisions by the World Radio Conference (WRC), which determines what radio channels are used for worldwide. From 1 January 2023, there will be a number of changes and the channels previously used for radiotelephony will have to be moved to new ones. For the neighbouring area, this affects a total of 20 locations throughout the country. The changeover began at the end of September, so crews may find that a bridge or lock keeper no longer answers on the usual VHF channels, some of which are even shown on maps or almanacs, as these are now reserved for digital data traffic.

The corresponding external signage on bridges and locks has been replaced since 26 September, so the correct VHF channel is still visible to attentive users on the move.

The overview below shows which points are involved and when the channel will be changed. The corresponding Dutch change notification from Rijkswaterstaat is online here to find.

Map with the new radio channelsPhoto: RijkswaterstaatMap with the new radio channels

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Andreas Fritsch

Andreas Fritsch

Editor Travel

Andreas Fritsch was born in Buxtehude in 1968 and has been sailing since childhood, first in a dinghy and later on his own keelboats on the Elbe and later the Baltic Sea. After studying political science, German and history in Münster, he began working as a journalist and joined the YACHT editorial team in 1997. Since 2001, he has focussed on travel and charter and has travelled to almost all areas of the world and regularly charters in the Mediterranean, with Greece being his favourite area. He has written two cruising guides for the Mediterranean (Charter Guide Ionian Sea and Turkish Coast). In addition to travelling, he is a fan of the Open 60 and Maxi-Tri scene and regularly writes about these topics in YACHT. He has been sailing a classic GRP Grinde on the Baltic Sea for several years.

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