If you visit The Netherlands changes are big you end up in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Utrecht is the fourth largest city and its inner-city is a lot smaller than Amsterdam but it’s worthwhile a visit. Utrecht is easy [...]]]>

Nieuwe Gracht

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If you visit The Netherlands changes are big you end up in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Utrecht is the fourth largest city and its inner-city is a lot smaller than Amsterdam but it’s worthwhile a visit. Utrecht is easy to visit if you are in Amsterdam of Rotterdam. With train or car you will be there within a hour. In Utrecht there are a lot of canoe/kayak rentals to hire from, so visiting Utrecht from the water should not be a problem. Most of the canals have a low side of one to two meters wide and therefore higher walls are further away from the water giving you a perfect view of the old city.

Just watch this video or browse to the photo gallery for an impression.

Click to watch this movie in HD

One of the most beautiful fortified towns in The Netherlands must be Brielle. Brielle also had an interesting role in the Eighty Years war against Spain. This very important historical happening is celebrated [...]]]> To video | To map

One of the most beautiful fortified towns in The Netherlands must be Brielle. Brielle also had an interesting role in the Eighty Years war against Spain. This very important historical happening is celebrated every year in Brielle. People dress up either as the Watergeuzen (the Dutch side), the inhabitants, or the Spanish. They reenact what happened that day and during the day you will hear a lot of canon shots. In the afternoon the act where the Geuzen take over Brielle starts when the Geuzen ship Prince Admirael docks. The best way to view this act is from the water, so lucky us.
Besides this happing Brielle makes a beautiful town to visit, but if you would be in the Netherlands on the 1st of April you do not want to miss this.

This street is still in Spanish hands

Brielle is situated near the Brielse Meer (lake). This lake is man-made and before the 1950’s Brielle had a direct connection with the North Sea. To the west of Brielle there is an old Lighthouse and the Kogeloven (canon oven). Here iron cannonballs where heated before being shot. The canon ball itself would damage the enemy’s ship and the heat would hopefully create a fire. At the Kogeloven there is a restaurant with the same name and the small beach in front of it makes a great starting point for kayaking. First we went on the widest part of the Brielse Meer, after that we went on to Brielle. Just before Brielle we rested on one of the many beaches of the Brielse Meer. We crossed to Brielle and in Brielle we went out the water to wonder around, between the reenactments and stands in the streets of Brielle. Via the Sint Catharijnechurch en het Asylplein (plein means square) (This square has little house, old or disabled sailors  – now I know where to go to if I can’t kayak anymore) back to the kayaks and in the water again. A short paddle to where the most important part of the reenactment takes place, sit back and enjoy the show. After that it’s back to Kogeloven.

Small beach at the Kogeloven

Klik hier om de film in HD te bekijken

On the Rotte – alternative windmill journey

If you ever been to The Netherlands with an organized group you will have seen windmills. If you choose Amsterdam (see old Dutch city or smoke pot) they probably pushed on a bus to [...]]]> Directly to video | Directly to images | Directly to map

On the Rotte – alternative windmill journey

If you ever been to The Netherlands with an organized group you will have seen windmills. If you choose Amsterdam (see old Dutch city or smoke pot) they probably pushed on a bus to Zaanse Schans (try to pronounce that). If you went to Rotterdam (you wanted architecture) the bus would have taken you to Kinderdijk. In the last case that isn’t really necessary. Along the Rotte (the river that gave Rotterdam it’s name) you’ll find plenty of old windmills but without the masses you will find at Kinderdijk any time of year. The area of the Rotte is loved by joggers, bikers and watersport enthusiasts so for anyone reading this blog it’s the best place to be if you want to relax and enjoy some scenery. The other location can be visited from water as well, but they are just too commercial and busy.

On the 18^th of March I went to the Rotte with the canoeclub Lekko to do a 20KM journey to get those muscles going again. It was cloudy and windy but later on the sun popped out behind the clouds so it made for a pretty good day. Especially as it was still winter for 3 days. When some other members where getting they kayaks from their roof they made the mistake of untying the kayak but not taking it of immediately. That’s an absolute no-go in windy Holland. So the kayak crashed from the car on the road. Luckily the damage was not that big. Let that be a lesson for all you out there!

Click here to watch the video in HD

Kayak Essentials (£16.95)
This DVD will give you a good knowledge of the basics. How to paddle, keep balance, brace, etc. The instructions are given in wildwaterkayaks and most of the times repeated in seakayaks. This [...]]]> Kayakessentials.co.uk has two excellent instruction DVD’s. The Kayak Essentials and Sea Kayak Essentials. Two DVD’s full with information.

Kayak Essentials (£16.95)
This DVD will give you a good knowledge of the basics. How to paddle, keep balance, brace, etc. The instructions are given in wildwaterkayaks and most of the times repeated in seakayaks. This DVD should be in every kayakkers collection. Just to up the basics or to review you skills to see if you are doing it correctly. Below you will find the index of the DVD:

• Balancing: Edging + Leaning
• Balancing: Low Brace
• Balancing: Hi Brace
• Balancing: Sculling Support
• Forward Paddling: Long Boat
• Forward Paddling: Short Boat
• Forward Paddling: Reversing + Stopping
• Moving Sideways: Draw Strokes
• Moving Sideways: Sculling Draw
• Moving Sideways: Hanging Draw
• Steering Skills: Stern Rudder
• Turning Skills: Sweep Strokers
• Turning Skills: Short Boat Turns
• Turning Skills: Long Boat Turn

Two chapters of the DVD:

Sea Kayak Essentials (£21.95)
This DVD covers all the essentials for seakayaking. It starts out with the basics and works up to advanced skills like kayaking on a tidal race. Even if you are not a seakayakers the basic covered on this DVD can help you improve your skills a lot! Below you will find the index of the DVD:

• Introduction
• 5 Essentials
• Fundamentals
• Core Skills: Balancing
• Core Skills: Turning
• Core Skills: Forward Paddling
• Boat Awareness
• Use of the Skeg
• Turning in Wind and Waves
• Open Water Forward Paddling
• Moving Water Skills
• Surf Launching and Landing
• Rock Hopping
• Tide Race Skills
• Surfing Skills

Two chapters of the DVD:

Conclusion
These DVD’s are a great asset for any kayaker. It’s great to get to work on yourself or to study after you followed lessons from a instructor or people at you club.

More information: http://www.kayakessentials.co.uk/dvds/

Freya Hoffmeister has reached Cape Horn after 128 days and 3925KM. That is an average of 31KM a day!