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Sailing the Veluwemeer means enjoying one of the most beautiful and calmest boating areas in the Netherlands: sheltered water between the Veluwe and Flevoland, with beaches, small islands and the old Hanseatic towns of Elburg and Harderwijk on the shores. In this guide you read everything you want to know before heading out: the area, routes and mooring spots, depths, the rules and the weather. Fancy sailing yourself? You can rent a luxury boat from Elburg with us, no licence needed, from €239 per half day.
What should you know about sailing the Veluwemeer?
The Veluwemeer is a sheltered sailing area between the Veluwe and Flevoland, with beaches, islands and the Hanseatic towns of Elburg and Harderwijk. You sail it without a licence in a boat, from Elburg harbour.
The Veluwemeer is the largest of the Veluwe border lakes, the elongated lakes between the Veluwe and Flevoland. Together with the Drontermeer and the Wolderwijd it forms a connected boating area without locks between Elburg and Harderwijk. The water is sheltered and easy to read: no tide, no big waves, but wide views and plenty of nature. That is exactly why the Veluwemeer is so suitable for sailing yourself.
From the harbour of Elburg you reach the open water within minutes. Popular routes: to the beaches and small islands off the Flevoland shore, a loop through the Drontermeer along the nature, or with a full day the crossing towards Harderwijk. Along the way you moor at a beach or island for a swim off the platform. All routes, mooring spots, waterside restaurants and swimming spots are on our interactive water map, including live depths.
The Veluwemeer is largely shallow; the buoyed fairway is the deepest part and always safe to navigate. Outside the fairway it can get shallow quickly, especially towards the shores and around the islands. Stay between the buoys or check the depth map beforehand: our water map shows the current depth per point, based on official measurements and the current water level. So you know exactly where you can sail and moor with confidence.
Sailing the Veluwemeer is relaxed, but a few basic rules apply: keep right in the fairway, give commercial and larger vessels room, slow down near swimming zones, moorings and harbours, and do not anchor in the fairway. Speed limits apply on the border lakes; our boat comfortably stays within them. During the briefing before departure we calmly walk you through the rules and the area, so you set off well prepared.
The Veluwemeer is sheltered, but wind determines how the water feels. Good to know: with a north-westerly wind the water near Elburg is pushed up slightly (set-up), with a south-easterly it is lowered (set-down); we process that live in our depth map. Unsure whether the weather will cooperate? Check our sail-or-not page with the live forecast. And if you book with us: In bad weather you reschedule to another day free of charge. That is your call; your rental fee moves to the new day and we do not refund it.
The best of the Veluwemeer is experienced from the water. With us you rent a luxury, spacious boat (Primeur 615, up to 8 people) from the harbour of Elburg: no licence needed, with a clear briefing beforehand, and all-in priced with fuel and insurance included; life jackets free on request. A half day costs €239, a full day €399. Pick your date and the water is yours.
Ready to sail the Veluwemeer yourself? The boat is waiting in Elburg.
Check availabilityWritten by the team of Bootverhuur Elburg, who sail the Veluwemeer themselves and maintain the boat.
Last updated: 13-11-2026
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