Can you bring food and drinks aboard?

Yes, please do. Bring your own picnic, snacks and drinks; there is room for a cool box on board. We only ask that you leave the boat tidy and take your litter back with you.

On the shore of an island yes, aboard no (fire risk). On De Eekt and De Kleine Zwaan it is allowed on shore but not on the jetty; De Ral and Pierland have fire pits. Use a barbecue that keeps off the ground and clear up the coals tidily.

Where can you moor to picnic?

At the islands of the Drontermeer and the Veluwemeer. Closest are De Eekt and De Kleine Zwaan on the Drontermeer, 4 to 5 km by boat from Elburg; towards Harderwijk lie De Ral and Pierland. During the day mooring at De Eekt, De Kleine Zwaan and De Ral is free. Our water map shows the spots and current depths.

Is a half day enough for a picnic?

For a calm picnic with a swim a half day is often enough. If you want to visit several islands or really make a day of it with a barbecue, choose a full day.

Picnic and barbecue on the Veluwemeer: sailing to the islands

Picnic and barbecue on the Veluwemeer

A day of sailing really becomes an outing with food and drink. On the Veluwemeer you sail to the islands and beaches, tie up and unpack the picnic, aboard or on shore. Bring your own snacks in a cool box, swim off the platform and eat with your feet in the sand. This page shows where to go and how to arrange it, from the harbour of Elburg.

Picnic aboard or on an island

The boat has comfortable seating all around and room for a cool box, so you can picnic aboard, in the middle of the water. Prefer your feet in the sand? Moor at an island, such as De Eekt or De Kleine Zwaan on the Drontermeer, or De Ral and Pierland on the Veluwemeer, spread out a blanket and make an afternoon of it. At De Eekt, De Kleine Zwaan and De Ral mooring is free during the day; on Pierland you pay 1 euro per person. Bring your own food and drink; we only ask that you take everything back with you tidily.

Barbecue on shore

If you want to barbecue, do so on the shore of an island, never aboard (because of fire risk on the boat). On De Eekt and De Kleine Zwaan the barbecue is allowed on shore but not on the jetty, and open fires are not allowed there. De Ral and Pierland have fire pits. Use a barbecue that keeps off the ground, clear up the coals tidily and take your litter home: it is often windy, and then it blows away. That way it stays a nice spot for everyone.

Swim, moor and stay all day

De Eekt and De Kleine Zwaan lie 4 to 5 km by boat from Elburg, so you are there in no time, and the water near the shore is shallow, ideal for swimming. Combine a picnic with a dive off the swim platform, let the children paddle and stay as long as you like. On a full day you have all the time to visit several spots. Our water map shows where it is deep enough and where the nicest places are.

Booking a picnic day

For a calm picnic with a swim a half day is often enough; if you want to visit several islands and really make a day of it, choose a full day. You rent the luxury Primeur 615 (up to 8 people) from Elburg, no licence needed, all-in with fuel and insurance; life jackets free on request. A half day costs €239, a full day €399.