When it's choppy out on the North Sea, the Staande-Mast route is a popular alternative for sailors. But if you want to sail from Vlissingen to Delfzijl - or in the opposite direction - with a standing mast in 2026, you have a problem: neither the east nor the west route is continuously navigable. If you don't want to end up in a dead end, you have to plan your route carefully. A complete inland passage is currently not possible.
What is the standing mast route?
The Staande Mast Route is a continuous inland route for sailing and motor boats with mast heights of over six metres. It runs from the delta waters in South Holland via the IJsselmeer to Friesland and Groningen - completely over inland waters. Instead of travelling a good 200 miles on the open North Sea, water sports enthusiasts can experience plenty of quaint villages, lively towns and leisurely inland journeys through lush green meadows.
The route runs from Breskens/Vlissingen to Delfzijl and covers around 458 kilometres of waterway. Normally, boats with mast heights of up to 30 metres can cover this distance without having to lower their masts. All bridges and locks are designed for this - at least in theory.
In practice, the route is divided into three main sections: From the delta waters in South Holland (Vlissingen - Willemstad) via the West Netherlands (Willemstad - Amsterdam to the North Netherlands (Amsterdam - Delfzijl via IJsselmeer and Friesland). The middle section of the route is divided into two variants: The western route via Haarlem or the eastern route via Schiphol.
Where you can't get through in 2026
The eastern route south of Amsterdam has been hit particularly hard: the Schipholbrug will be closed to ships over 6.25 metres until at least the end of 2026. The Schinkelbrug and the Overtoomsesluis in Amsterdam are also out of service - as things stand at present, the Schinkelbrug will not be served again until 2030.
Further south, the Alblasserdamsebrug will only have a limited service until the end of May. The eastern route is therefore completely closed; it is not yet known how long this will last. If you want to take part in one of the spectacular night-time convoys through Amsterdam, you have to head for the metropolis via the Noordzeekanaal and can continue on to the Ijsselmeer from there. But only during the day - the Oranjesluizen is closed to pleasure craft from 10 pm to 6 am.
Another closure could become a trap: The Algerabrug at Krimpen aan den IJssel to the east of Rotterdam will be closed to tall ships from 13 July to 28 September during the high season due to major maintenance work.
The western route via Haarlem is also suffering: In February, the Buitenhuizerbrug broke down again. This means that the journey from the south comes to a halt directly in front of the Noordzeekanaal. Ships with a height of more than 6.82 metres cannot get through. It is not yet clear when the repairs will be completed. This route is also blocked.
These sections are still passable
Despite the closures, parts of the route remain usable:
Deltawaters to Willemstad
The southernmost part from Vlissingen to the Volkeraksluizen near Willemstad is generally navigable. However, the pleasure craft lock at the Volkeraksluizen is only operated to a limited extent due to damage. Recreational boats are locked in groups. The lock is closed between 10 pm and 6 am and waiting times can be up to two hours.
North Netherlands (IJsselmeer to Delfzijl)
In the northern Netherlands, sailors can sail via Kornwerderzand to Harlingen. The route from Amsterdam via the IJsselmeer to Friesland and Groningen is generally usable. Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch waterways authority, has come up with a creative solution for this: The Brug Uitwellingerga across the Prinses Margrietkanaal is lifted out during the entire sailing season (April to September). Pleasure craft can then pass through unhindered.
The old bridge could no longer be repaired and was dismantled in spring 2025. Rijkswaterstaat dismantled and removed it. A temporary fixed bridge was installed as a replacement - and this is completely lifted out every year as soon as the sailing season begins. Rijkswaterstaat provides a ferry for residents and cyclists to cross during the bridge-free months. The new bridge is scheduled for completion in 2029.
Outside the season, between October and March, the fixed bridge with a clearance height of 7.10 metres remains in place. Higher ships then have to make way: Pleasure craft and commercial vessels between 7.10 and 11.50 metres in height can sail around via the Langweerder Wielen and the Noarder Alde Wei. Larger vessels up to a maximum of 40 x 6 x 1.9 metres (length x width x draught) can take the route via Sneek. Rijkswaterstaat recommends that even larger ships take the bypass via the Van Harinxmakanaal and Kornwerderzand.
Other bottlenecks along the route
The Dorkwerdersluis north of Groningen will probably only be operated on a limited basis until the end of May, every working day between 17:30 and 19:00, at weekends at normal times. The lock is completely closed during working hours. There are additional berths for waiting boats. Boats up to 6.8 metres in height can pass through the Van Starkenborghkanaal via the Oostersluis to the Reitdiephaven.
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Why the route is collapsing
Many bridges, locks and viaducts date back to the 1950s and 1960s and are now at the end of their service life. At the same time, they are under increasing strain with more traffic and heavier vehicles.
In 2020, the Dutch water authorities signed an agreement in which they committed to maintaining the Standing Mast Route. The parties involved have pledged to keep this route available with unlimited headroom. But the maintenance work is so extensive that guaranteed availability is becoming increasingly difficult.
Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise
