Canoe camping in the Weerribben-Wieden
For multi-day canoe camping trips in Europe you have to go to Sweden. At least that is the widely held opinion. Well, for those who don’t want to drive endless kilometers, there is good news. The largest peat bog area in northwestern Europe is located barely 300 kilometers from Brussels. The Weerribben-Wieden National Park is a true canoe paradise. Go canoe camping in the Weerribben-Wieden with us and fall in love with this amazing area.
The vast swamp and lake area covers a surface of about 11,000 hectares and was created by human hands. Peat has been extracted in the area since the Middle Ages. By “stabbing” the peat channels, creeks and pools were created. Activity in the Weerribben was much more regulated than in the Wieden. The peat dried there on “ribs” that were specially kept clear between the canals. In the Wieden, many of those “ribs” have been swept away, creating large lakes. Besides peat extraction, reed cultivation was also an important activity. Until today the Kalenberg thatch is very renowned.
The area is therefore a gigantic cultural landscape that, thanks to excellent and active management, houses an enormous diversity of species and ditto landscape types. During this 4-day canoe camping trip of about 60 km you have good chances of spotting grass snakes, otters, ospreys, egrets, storks, purple herons and a plethora of other birds. All this in a surprisingly diverse landscape. From swamp forests over reed and hay meadows to large open water areas.
Trip highlights
- Paddle through an amazing area with ever changing landscapes, from dense swamp forest to large open water
- Develop your canoe skills under the guidance of your expert guides
- Learn how to cook on an open fire and enjoy great meals
- Visit some of the most beautiful villages the Netherlands holds
- Experience being outdoors and who knows, catch some fish
Trip details
When: 4 days / 3 nights
Region: Overijsel
Trip type: Canoe camping
Comfort: Campsites and pole camping
Length/day: 14 km – 17 km – 17 km – 12km
Group size: 8 maximum
Confirmed: When 2 travellers book
Difficulty: For all paddlers with advanced canoeing skills and some previous experience with canoe trips
Saturday August 12, 2023 to Tuesday August 15, 2023 // €530 pp
Practical
€ 530 per person
Trip dates
Saturday August 13, 2022 to Tuesday August 16, 2022
The Fine Print
Minimum age to participate is 14 years with an adult or 18 years without. We reserve the right to cancel any program with less than 24 hours notice due to changing weather conditions such as strong winds or thunderstorms. Please check your email for cancellation notices before arriving. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but your safety and well-being is our top priority.
Canoe camping trip prerequisites
This canoe camping trip is accessible for all paddlers with advanced canoeing skills and a good level of fitness. We will mostly be paddling on small canals and waterways but will have to cross some large bodies of water. Competence steering the canoe and good boat controle are advisable skills. You can expect up to 5-7 hours of paddling a day plus breaks. Level: Canoeing beginners
What's included?
- Paddle
- Lifejacket
- Canoe
- Drybag of 50L for your personal affairs
- Tent
- Water
- Lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Sunday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Monday, breakfast and lunch on Tuesday
What to bring?
- Matress & sleeping bag
- Active clothing and personal stuff
- Personal medication
- Sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses with floater string.
- Snacks & drinks if desired
- Download our extensive packing list here
Arrival and departure
We make a start in Ossenzijl. You are expected Saturday at 10:00am. We will be back on tuesday afternoon at approximately 05:00pm. Cars will be parked safely.
Accommodation
On this canoe camping trip, we pole camp and stay on a small nature camping. We provide tents and also carry a base camp shelter, which means that we can all gather together for dinner and a hot drink even if the weather is inclement. If you require a single tent we are happy to provide this, but otherwise, we do ask that those who are happy to share a tent with other travellers do so. This helps to keep our camp size small, giving us more options of where to pitch and reducing our environmental impact on these precious places.
Meals
Great food is essential to all our trips and canoe trekkings. While the guide will co-ordinate the cooking and help out, everyone is asked to lend a hand as this ensures the best meals in a reasonable time after what are often long days. We will carry plenty of fresh food to cater a varied and satisfying menu throughout the trip, all of these will be prepared on an open fire. We will also carry fresh water. Dietary requirements can still be catered for but please ensure we know at the time of booking.
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