Prologue

Last trip of 2025 and we are on our way home. Home being the Van der Laan harbour in Maasbracht, somewhere I haven’t seen since we left in May 2022. I like Van de Laan, even if there isn’t anywhere to swim, but I believe things might have changed a little. I don’t mind a little and as long as I can still run on the grass, visit the Linssen showroom and have coffee on the quay, I’ll be a happy dog. On the way we are going to re-visit many familiar places, swim in the Isselmeer (and anywhere else I get a chance to), play lots of ball and just enjoy not being on the sea! That’s just me by the way, Alison keeps saying she is so going to miss Sweden and Denmark and their beautiful islands, pretty towns and bumpy sea!

We have Roger with us on this trip and are meeting Jane and Walton in Papenburg who will sail with us for a few days. All sounds good to me as it means lots of attention and lots of kisses – well from Jane anyway.

August 17th 2025 – Whalley – Hull

The day before we were due to leave Brian got a message from P&O saying the work on the car ramp was still not complete and loading would be via the stern along with the freight. This was the same as last time – it’s now been out for about a year – and causes long delays with both loading and unloading. I don’t mind the loading delay but I’m very unhappy about the unloading (or disembarkation in boat speak of which I’m fluent). Well, this time it was even worse! When we got to the ship we were directed to deck 3 not deck 7 which is where the dog kennels and dog cabins are. Deck 7 was full they said. Not good enough, I said. With stairs I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole, using the lift was the only option and as I love lifts this initially wasn’t much of a problem. So, rather later than usual I got to my doggie cabin – yes I was back in a cabin – but this time I only shared with Roger which gave me a whole bed to myself! Definitely better than the kennels.

August 18th 2025 – Rotterdam to Papenburg

They warned us about delays but it really was ridiculous. I am seriously considering reporting P&O to the RCPCA. They knew they had directed dogs to deck 3 but despite that we were virtually the last cars off the ship. This is not supposed to happen and with a bit more planning it could easily have been avoided. Alison is fuming and a complaint letter will be winging its way to P&O. Then there was the lift farce. As I said yesterday you wouldn’t get me down those stairs under any circumstances, but the only lift that was working was totally full every time it stopped at deck 7. It must have taken 20 minutes to get down to deck 3 – via deck 10! Even then so many people crammed into the lift after us I had no choice but to stick my head up a ladies skirt! Just as well I wasn’t a boy or she’d have reported me for up skirting!

Eventually we did manage to leave Pride of Hull and head off towards Papenburg, arriving at Annapanna in plenty of time to unpack and shop before Jane and Walton arrived from Lubeck. Ahh Jane …. my friend who taught me how to go down the steps when I was still a puppy. I didn’t want her to see I had reverted to my wimpy puppy ways so this trip I will be brave, or at least for the first 4 days!

August 19th 2025 – Papenburg

We are here for two nights for one reason, so they could go round the Meyer Werft shipyard today. Meyer Werft builds cruise ships, massive ones, including the one from the Aida line that unfortunately, we came across in Skagen. All 6000 passengers disembarked on this lovely little town and walked – with me – along the sea shore to the place the waters meet – the waters being the North Sea and Baltic. It was not a reflective experience. Fortunately, all 6000 of them then turned round and walked back the same way, so at least we had a quiet and peaceful return journey through the sand dunes.
Of course I wasn’t included in the tour but I believe it was quite interesting even if it was all in German, a language non of them speak! A tour round the monstrous Disney ship nearing completion would have been a highlight if it was available… but it wasn’t. Roger came back kitted out with Meyer memorabilia- a cap and polo shirt – to remind him of the visit.

Then we all headed off into town along the beautiful and flower bedecked canal. Jane wandered as far as the kitchenware shop and then proceeded to buy its entire collection of chopping boards before finally meeting up with us at Alison’s favourite toy, the ice cream dispenser near the windmill. I was then left alone in the evening while they went to Restaurant Schnurboden in the old Meyer Werft ship building hall. It might have been a big restaurant but I think cruise ships must have been a lot smaller then!

August 20th 2025 – Papenburg – Delfzijl

A move and a change of country. Goodbye Germany, hello The Netherlands. It nearly didn’t happen though! We left Hennings boat yard and rang the man controlling the 3 bridges that would take us back onto the Papenburger Sielkanal, up to the sea lock and out into the tidal Ems. All planned at high tide to make use of the flow of a falling tide, we nearly didn’t make our 11 am booking at the Sea Lock. One of the bridges had men working on it and the bridge master said he couldn’t open it! It was up to the workmen he said. So we moored up and Alison went to speak to them. Nice men, very nice men. They said they would stop, clear up and let them open the bridge. Thank you so much lovely workmen.

A relaxing sail in the sunshine down the Ems took us to Delfzijl, across the border in The Netherlands, my adopted home country. As recommended, we moored in the harbour on the North Sea side of the lock, taking the last place on the long pontoon for larger boats. A wander into town then a walk along the dyke with Alison, Jane and Walton kept me happy whilst Brian and Roger booked in with the harbour master and topped up the fuel. Just as well they did see the harbour master as when we arrived back from our walk we were told we were leaving at 6am as the lock was only open at that time until the end of the week! I might like my beauty sleep but 6am for Brian is positively the middle of the night!

August 21st 2025 – Delfzijl – Groningen

It wasn’t even light when I was woken up and dragged out for my constitution, but there was one big advantage, I got my breakfast before 6am! Then we were off and into the lock with lots of other early birds. Another advantage of an early start is an early finish, so we were in Groningen by not long after 9 and by 11 had moved to our perfect mooring alongside the quay on the town side of the canal. Before then though Jane and Alison had set off back to Papenburg to pick up the cars, as tomorrow Jane and Walton are leaving us and heading off to Ghent, the last stop on their Northern European tour. They were away a lot longer than intended though as the info from Rome to Rio was woefully out of date and they had to wait two hours for a bus as the train hasn’t been running for a long time!

Then it was party time! The champagne came out (actually the very superior English sparkling they had at the end of the West Highland Way), the music went on and after dinner cooked by Jane, the dancing started. For some anyway! Roger danced for the first time in about a hundred years, Jane and Alison threw themselves around and reminisced, Brian and Walton looked on patiently – and I went to bed!

August 22nd 2025 – Groningen

Alison did not want to move today. We are in no hurry and there were lots of jobs to do as they were playing musical beds. With a dryer across the street it was all too convenient, but very boring for me. Even worse, they all went off to the shops and then out for lunch, leaving me all alone for hours! Eventually though it was my turn and off we went to Noorderplantsoen, the northern park, for some play time. We were surprised to find there was a Festival of Performing Arts in full flow, an outdoor cinema, amateur dramatics, music, children’s activity tents and lots and lots of food stalls! I should be paid for all the hoovering up I had to do along the way!

August 23rd 2025 – Groningen- Zoutkamp

Yet another early start, although not in the same league as the 6am one the other day. Travelling through the city means travelling through many lifting bridges, so we had to move in convoy. We were ready and waiting at Oosterbrug when it opened at 9am and for the next 2 hours sailed past the many sights in the southern and western side of the city. In the early afternoon we arrived in the harbour of Zoutkamp and took the last place on the quay…… again! This is becoming a habit.
I remember Zoutkamp. Lovely little harbour, great fish shop, good ice cream, several restaurants and best of all a lake with a doggy play area. Perfect. So off we went, over the dyke to a favourite place. It wasn’t quite as good as last time as part of the circular walk round the lake is closed off as a development site. I’m not sure what they are developing but I don’t think the closure is permanent and anyway it didn’t bother me as I still had plenty of room to chase my ball. Today I was a happy dog.

August 24th 2025 – Zoutkamp to Dokkum

A leisurely start and slow sail along the Reitdiep, into Lauwersmeer and on to the Dokkumer Grutdjip took us to everyone’s favourite place, Dokkum. As with our last two visits we managed to get a mooring between the windmills, just on the other side of the dyke to this super pretty town. Roger hasn’t been before so we took him on a bit of a tour. Into town, along the canal, up to the Markt and the Ice Fountain and on the way – the highlight – a ZUCO ice cream from the little stall by the bridge. Alison was so delighted to see the ZUCO sign as it sells the best ice cream, yoghurt and pannacotta ever! Sadly it was only ice cream here though, but now she has confirmation the dairy is still in existence she has every intention of calling and stocking up during the car move from Groningen.

August 25th 2025 – Dokkum to Leeuwarden

Left Dokkum today on a very slow sail along the Dokkumer Le to Leeuwarden, another rather lovely town. We got a perfect mooring in the Prinsentuin, a park area with a bright green lake, very near to the leaning tower of Leeuwarden and the old town. I’m very happy here and delighted we are staying for two nights, although less happy when I was dragged around the town later in the afternoon. Nor were Brian and Roger. The enforced sight seeing was incidental though as the town had a power outage and Albert Hejn was closed. This meant a long walk across town to the Jumbo (which was actually nearer the boat, but you know what Brian’s like with Albert Hejn)! The men are now refusing to go with Alison on her miniature people hunt tomorrow and that means I don’t need to go either, which is very good news. Give me a park rather than a town anytime.

August 26th 2025 – Leeuwarden

As agreed yesterday, Alison went off on her hunt for the little people of Leeuwarden whilst I stayed on Annapanna with Roger and Brian whilst they washed her down. A much needed job as she was very dirty. We met up for a late lunch in Oldehove, or leaning tower square, where Alison told us she had found about a third of the miniatures. The blurb says it takes about an hour and a half to walk round the town to find them so her efforts were pretty poor! She did stop for coffee, a shop in Klein Kerkstraat and a detour to see the Love fountain and had to translate all the clues, so fair enough. She thinks some are missing too and as the initiative started for the 2024 season, that is probably true.
After lunch, Roger and Alison headed up the spiral staircase to the viewing platform at the top of The Leaning Tower, Oldehove, whilst Brian and I watched them from the comfort of the restaurant. Then Alison was off again, not miniature hunting this time but a trip to Jumbo and then a wander back via Jacobijnerkerk and Sint Bonofatiuskerk, the beautiful gardens of St Anthony Gasthuis, the town hall and the Waag.

August 27th 2025 – Leeuwarden – Joure

We left Leeuwarden when the first bridge opened at 9am as we had an assignation with Remare, an electronic engineer company recommended by Boris, in Sneek in the afternoon. The problem? Well it seems to me it is the usual problem, the thrusters aren’t working properly! We got there in good time and they quickly discovered a couple of blown fuses. So with the fuses changed and spares on board we decided to move on to Joure, a town they haven’t been to since 2011. That is 6 years before I was even born! Well I’ve been now and so has Roger and we like it very much. Lovely mooring along the canal, great walks through woodland and around a lake and a very pretty town centre. There are plenty of restaurants in town plus the Orangery in the harbour. In fact everything you could want.
Joure is famous for several things; it is the home of Douwe Egbert of coffee fame, hosts the Frisian Balloon Festival each year and is the centre of Frisian clock manufacturing. Apparently last time they were here they were taken into the workshop of one of these clock makers. We checked it out on our wander through town and you’ll be happy to know it’s still there.

August 29th 2025 – Joure- Blokzijl

After another trip on the electric ferry and wander into town, we set off in the sunshine for yet another favorite place, Blokzijl. We travelled via Ossenzijl and Kalenberger gracht as Roger hasn’t been to this area before. It is all very beautiful, very narrow and very slow, absolutely perfect for me! We arrived in the circular (ish) harbour of Blokzijl via the lock and were directed to a perfect mooring against the quay by the harbour master. Just as well he was there as it was very busy. It is supposed to be the end of the holiday season in the Netherlands but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the busy harbors in Friesland.
A wander round the town and a walk along the ramparts kept me happy, so I was quite content to be left on board whilst they went to Grand Cafe Prins Mauritshuis for dinner. Very good apparently, with lovely views over the harbour from the new (ish) conservatory.

August 29th 2025 – Blokzijl – Urk

We are going to a favorite place they told me. Especially for you as you can play on the beach and swim in the IJsselmeer. They didn’t tell me that to get there we had to sail in the IJsselmeer on a windy day! I thought we’d left all this sea going lark behind, but no. It might be an inland sea, but it’s still sea -with waves – and I didn’t like it. All I can say is that the wind had better drop before we cross it in a couple of days! In the meantime we are here, in the harbour not on the long pier like last time, so it’s a long walk to the doggy beach. They think we are better here though as it’s more sheltered and I’m inclined to agree. The beach isn’t the same either when the waves are big. I did play for a while but then decided I didn’t like it…. Then I forgot I didn’t like it and wanted to go back! I know, I am contrary!

August 30th 2025 – Urk

We are here for 2 nights, so today we had a chill day. The weather wasn’t forecast to be good but other than a very short spell around lunchtime, it was warm and sunny and much less windy than yesterday. In fact it was too warm on my mega boring walk to the nature area via the Saturday market in the middle of a nondescript shopping centre. I might have told a different tale if the nature area had been open, but it wasn’t, and looked like it hadn’t been for a long time. But then it got better. After a conversation about the doggy beach with the lady at the tourist office, she said that the beach off the long pier no longer allowed dogs, not even the end bit – but we were allowed anywhere along the dyke. So, armed with my ball, Roger, Alison and I set off into town, first for coffee by the museum and then on past the War and Fishing memorials and down onto the dyke…….and into the water. It was so much better than yesterday. The area was definitely more sheltered, the waves small and the beach empty. Just how I like it. All so much nicer than a walk to a boring market! Then we headed back into town to meet Brian for lunch. I got lucky there too. A lovely waitress who kept giving me biscuits and a couple on the next table who gave me lots of attention and some leftovers. All in all a good day. Good for Alison too. Some successful shopping followed by a lounge on deck in the sunshine – as tonight Roger made dinner. Chicken Chasseur I believe it was called. The bit I got was very tasty thank you.

August 31st 2025 – Urk to Enkhuizen

I could see it was windy when we left our mooring so made sure I hunkered down for another uncomfortable crossing. And it was uncomfortable, but could have been worse and the stabilisers did their bit. It was only 2 hours as well, so the whole experience was soon over and we arrived at the bridge into the inner harbour at Enkhuizen by lunchtime. Getting here this early also meant we got a perfect mooring in a favourite place, on the long pontoon near the inner bridge.

We all headed off to the harbourmasters office in the outer harbour, had lunch at the fish restaurant below it and shopped in a favourite store nearby… well Roger did. He thinks he’s going to need some warmer clothes over the next 2 weeks so bought himself a new jacket. Alison resisted, but then again she had her shopping day yesterday. Then we separated and Alison and I headed off for a wander along the canal and into town. There was a market on along the Main Street and most of the shops were open, so the town was buzzing. Not exactly my ideal walk but I managed to find plenty of scraps along the way, so it wasn’t too bad.

September 1st 2025 – Enkhuizen

Another day here so Roger could go to the Ziederzee museum and I could go to the beach for a swim. Brian and Alison have been to this open air museum at least 3 times but It’s a must for first timers to Enkhuizen. So Brian went with Roger and I went with Alison. Alison and I walked past the ramparts, along the dyke above the zoo with its climbing goats and onto Enkhuizen beach. It was a bit different though as they are building a Europarcs, so there were earth mounds everywhere. In some ways that was good for me though as it was obvious, even though the sign saying no dogs was still there, that the main occupants of at this bit of the beach were canines! Another problem keeping the humans away was seaweed, something I always find odd on a freshwater beach. We found a seaweed free bit though so I had a happy play in the water, even if it was too shallow for a swim. Then we walked back into town along a new path laid by Europarcs, past empty villas and swimming piers and then through the building site. It looks like it will all be finished soon, so watch out for it if you like that sort of thing.

Back in town we had coffee on the high street and then lunch by the bridge at the entrance to the old harbour before going to our own museum, the old town prison in the crooked house. A nice man looked after me whilst Alison climbed the rickety stairs to view the cells on the second and third floors. Then we all arrived back at the boat about the same time before Alison left me to cycle off in search of a butcher and Roger went to the Ship in a Bottle museum. After that, it was ice cream time, another highlight of my day.

September 2nd 2025 – Enkhuizen – Loenen

A long day today, even longer than the long day originally planned! It was all change yesterday as the forecast for Wednesday is not good and nobody wants to be on Markenmeer on a not good day. Especially me! So we decided to skip Hoorne and head straight for the Vecht instead. After a stop in Muiden and a walk along the ramparts whilst they filled up with the most expensive fuel in the Netherlands, we continued onto Weesp intending to moor in the town. It was full. We carried onto the yacht haven, they were full too. They did say we could moor off another boat and the owner was lovely in trying to help, but our two boats just weren’t compatible. They also had a constantly yapping dog on board, which would have driven me round the bend, so I was quite happy when they decided to carry on. And we did, past Vreeland and the Nederlanden Restaurant – that was shut – and on to beautiful Loenen. There is lots of mooring in Loenen they said. It looked full, but that was because so many boats had moored with massive spaces between them. One boat kindly hitched up and we slotted in. At last we stopped. Brian said it was the longest day ever. I don’t think so, but it was certainly up there with some other mega days.

Loenen really is a lovely town. We wandered through it on my evening walk, past the Michelin starred restaurants, the church, the windmill and all the beautiful mansions along the river. A special place.

September 3rd 2025 – Loenen to Maarssen

Car move day. First thing this morning Alison set off on her bike to the station in Breukelen to catch a train back to Groningen and pick up the car. Apart from getting soaked on her way to the station, all went to plan. Brian was a bit concerned as he had lost digital contact with the car and after the disaster of last year (when the battery was completely flat and poor Roger had to spend 2 days trying to sort it) he was worried Alison might encounter a similar problem. The car was fine and started without any problem ….. but …. It sounds like they were lucky it was still there! The free parking recommended by the harbour master in Groningen had been turned into a building site and there were no parking signs all over the place. All the cars had disappeared and Brian’s was the only one left! There had been no indication that building was about to commence, so it was quite a shock. I think they will always wonder why it wasn’t towed away? Harbourmaster intervention or foreign number plate – or just luck?

Whilst Alison was cavorting around the country the rest of us continued our slow passage down the Vecht, passing more beautiful houses lining the river before mooring up in Maarssen, our turnaround point on this particular trip.

September 4th 2025 – Maarssen – Vianen

One of the jobs they hope to get done this winter is an adaptation to the canvas, adding slidable poles that allow the entire roof to drop to the height of the windscreen, so alleviating the need to take all the canvas down when going under low bridges. An invention of Jeremy’s, it is now standard on all new AC Linssens (we think) but wasn’t available when Annapanna was born. As we have just had to retrace our steps back up the Vecht to Nigtevecht rather than take all the canvas down and leave the Vecht at Maarssen, it will be a very useful adaptation. Brian might like to query about cost versus need, but using that argument we shouldn’t have had the stabilisers – and I personally would not have gone to the Baltic without them!

The trip back up the Vecht was actually very pleasant. It was warm and sunny and all those summerhouses looked beautiful in the sunshine – and of course Alison missed the Loernen and Maarssen bit yesterday. But…. It took 4 hours to get back to where we started!

A boring few hours of the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal later we arrived at Vianen, yet another favourite little spot, to find a rather more developed mooring (not sure it qualifies as a marina). Last time we were here the opposite bank to the mooring was just waste land, but now there are houses along the bank and more pontoons below them. This virtually doubles the mooring space available and makes it much more attractive. With a lovely moated town, good shops and both an Albert Hejn and Jumbo 5 minutes walk away, it has a lot going for it.

September 5th 2025 – Vianen – Heusden

Before we left Vianen Alison took a trip back to Albert Hejn for some croissants for breakfast. She noticed a Jemima Puddleduck hanging around the entrance on her way in, but when she was leaving it became clear that Jemima had got wise to the benefits of begging outside supermarkets and thought she would give it go – And if Alison is anything to go by she has a very successful pitch! If we’d had time I would definitely have joined her.

Then we were off and onwards to yet another favourite place, Heusden. We got a great mooring on Steiger 8, just a short walk along the dyke and up the steps into town. I love the dyke. Virtually surrounding the town it is grassy and sheltered and has so many places to throw and chase balls. Unfortunately, they also like the town, so that means I have to endure that as well as dyke walking. But it’s a small town and there are loads of restaurants and cafes, so it wasn’t too much of a hardship.

September 6th 2025 – Heusden

Another day here because we love it so much and because we’ve learnt over time not to move on a sunny Saturday – and that’s all good for me. Alison went off for an early morning run along the outer ramparts – one she’s done many times before. Part way along the cycle path through the cornfields she decided to take a picture of the Cosmos planted along the edge of the fields and managed to drop her phone. One broken screen, but at least it’s still usable! A bit later we all walked the inner ramparts round the town stopping off at a Jas type market on the way. That’s a bric-a-brac market for the uninitiated. I wonder if Chris likes them? Then it was coffee and ice cream on the Main Street before returning to Annapanna for more washing and cleaning in the sunshine – whilst watching the harbour completely fill up – on a sunny Saturday!

Then, once all those chores were done the paddle board came down for the first time in 2 years. Brian and Roger had used up all their puff to blow it up whilst in Leuwarden, so it was ready for use should the opportunity arise. And it did. So off Alison went, a bit shaky at first (she’s not exactly an expert) but gaining more confidence as she went along. I should know, I watched her all the way and got very worried when she disappeared into the two harbours inside the drawbridges. She went to chat to some British Linssen owners in the inner harbour… chatting, I ask you, whilst all the time I was fretting about where she was.

Out for dinner later in one of the many restaurants in Vismarkt. I could have gone too but to be honest I wanted a quiet night so was happy to act as guard dog from the comfort of the sofa instead.

September 7th 2025 – Heusden – Maasbommel

Leisurely start with two walks along the ramparts. We also headed into town and came across the local fire fighters setting up for a series of demonstrations that afternoon. Unfortunately, we left Heusden this morning so missed the show, but they told us it included cutting a real person out of a car and rescuing a pretend person out of the water in the old harbour.

Then we set off for Yachthaven Hanzeland in Maasbommel, part of the Gouden Ham recreational area. And there was plenty of recreation going on let me tell you. There is nothing worse than a warm and sunny Sunday for speed boats zooming past, rocking the boat and disturbing my sleep. It was all worth it though as when we got there I instantly remembered this place and the way through the fence to heaven on the other side! Heaven being lots of grass, a deserted beach and other places to go into the water for a swim. And I needed a swim, it was 28 degrees today. There were other dogs around too, including a hyperactive and superfit spaniel retrieving their ball from the water. Now I’m a good swimmer but this one was in another league, I didn’t even try to compete.

Alison isn’t sure about Yachthaven Hanzeland. Our mooring is perfect – long solid fingers onto a wide, mown grassy area complete with picnic tables and plenty of other boats on permanent berths in the main harbour area…. But ….. it all seems a bit run down. There is a restaurant – in one of the ugliest buildings around – which should have been full, but it wasn’t – and the area where boats are kept out of the water housed the oldest, tattiest collection of sad looking specimens we’ve ever seen. A place where boats go to die. Even Heaven, on the other side of the fence, is a bit odd. The grassy areas are mown but the beach is a bit sad with graffitied and locked up toilets nearby. This of course suits me fine as it means the normal rules of no dogs don’t apply when there is no one around, and I have so much space to run. Maybe some time in the future we’ll arrive here to find Heaven full of motor homes and people on the beach, but for now it’s doggy paradise!

September 8th 2025 – Maasbommel – Cuijk (Linden)

Off we went down the Maas to another favourite, the lakes around Cuijk and recreatiepark T’Loo in the village of Linden. It was supposed to be another swimming spot but Alison spied algae in the water so it was out of bounds. It’s still a nice spot though even without the swimming. What we did instead was get down Little Dick and all 4 of us set off to Jumbo for a spot of shopping. Roger had never been in Little Dick so it was a new experience, and to say he was a concerned was a bit of an understatement! He didn’t say anything though until we got back. Good on him, game for anything. My relationship with Little Dick is variable but today I was quite happy, mainly because Brian was so worried about running out of power we just crawled along. I think I could have swum there quicker! Just as well he did though because we did run out of power, although fortunately just yards away from Annapanna, so it wasn’t an issue.

Then I got my walk, down to the beach I could have gone on but wan’t allowed (by Alison, no one else was bothered), then back through the village. There were Llamas, a donkey who desperately wanted to say hello and pretty sheep who didn’t. Their loss.

September 9th 2025 – Cuijk – ‘t Leuken

What a miserable start to the day. We knew the forecast was bad but still, torrential rain was not a great thing to wake up to. The swallows seem to think so too and they started to gather in their hundreds in preparation for their move to warmer climes. Annapanna and her neighbouring boat seemed as good a place as any for their rendezvous, as you can see from the photo below.

Then we were off. Down the Rainy Maas and struggling to see through the steamed up windows. On the plus side though, there wasn’t much traffic about so we got straight into the lock at Sambeek and headed towards T’Leuken. The excuse was that visibility was so poor they had to concentrate on the waterway, not the signs saying the entrance to Leukermeer had changed! So we sailed past KM138 and arrived at KM135, the usual entrance to Leukermeer, to find a no entry sign and a dead end! Back to KM138 to a new everything. Our ancient 20 year old ANWB Wateratlas shows absolutely no waterway, gravel pit or even stream. Now there are large water areas and lots of cranes moving sand around. They obviously need a lot more sand in the Netherlands as this is the reverse of the usual Dutch policy of making more land, not taking it away!

And so to Leukermeer, where we had planned to stay at Haven ‘t Leuken but couldn’t see any spaces, so we returned to Resort Leukermeer, that ever expanding mega resort we have watched grow from a tatty harbour and friendly bar to the 5* resort it is now. The expansion since our last visit includes completion of the lake houses, a new infinity pool, water slides, a second restaurant and of course, a Padel court.

September 10th 2025 – Leukermeer to Roermond

One of the reasons we like Leukermeer is because of the lovely walk around the lake and Alison wasn’t about to leave without checking it out. Yesterday wasn’t really a day for much exploring, so today she left me behind after breakfast and set off for a run round the lake. I could have gone with her, in fact I have done in the past, but she decided it was too soon after I’d eaten! That is a joke by the way, as I hardly need to break into a trot to keep up with her…. Anyway, off she went disappearing into the heavy mist we woke up to, so I couldn’t even keep an eye on her for long. Lovely as ever was the verdict and even better now the bridge over the lakeside development is open, so the path leads straight back into the resort.

Then we were off to Roermond via the slightly eerie new entrance/exit to Leukermeer. It could have been a very long day but with perfect timing the two locks were ready for us, so we got into the harbour at Roermond in plenty of time for me to go swimming. As usual it was Linssen central on the visitor quay but everyone was happy to do a bit of shuffling up to make room for us. It wasn’t that there was a shortage of space, it was just that the central pontoon is horrible metal, and I just don’t do that any more. Fortunately our neighbours had two dogs and they refuse to go on metal too, so were very understanding – even if some of the others couldn’t quite work out why we were messing about! This harbour is perfect for me (other than a long drop down to the quay) because there is a long grassy section between the harbour and the Maas and plenty of places to get into the water – which never has algae as there is so much movement in it. So I got my ball and plenty of hydrotherapy before sleeping it off whilst they went out for dinner.

September 11th 2025 – Roermond – Maasbracht

And so back to Maasbracht and Van der Laan, after 3 years and 4 months, 7945 kilometres, 856 engine hours and 4 countries. I am one well travelled dog, may I tell you! It was a short hop from Roermond for us, just an hour or so down the Maas to Maasbracht, whilst Alison caught the train back to Maarssen to pick up the car for the last time this year. It’s all a bit different at VdL as Harry is now married to Serena.. and Serena has dogs, so I now have a new friend. He is a boy, so can be troublesome, but I can cope and he doesn’t mind when I pinch his ball.

September 12th 2025 – Maasbracht

We got here a day earlier than usual as Brian wanted Roger to have a tour of the Linssen boat yard. So off they went this morning whilst Alison and I set off for a walk along the canal and into town for coffee at Jaggerz. Then we went to the pet shop where I disgraced myself by pinching a big chew! I was in trouble, but the good news was that Alison had to buy it…. Might just try it again sometime!
Later on it was Vet time, so off we went to Eva’s on the high street for my passport stamp and worming tablets, disguised as very tasty dog treats. Eva even gave me some more treats too, so all in all, a good visit. See you again Eva.

I was left alone again at night as they had booked dinner at Roosterhoeve, that favourite hotel and restaurant that doesn’t allow dogs any more….. so not a favourite of mine! They had a good dinner apparently and a lovely evening catching up with Marcel and the staff, so they were happy, even if I wasn’t.

September 13th 2025 – Maasbracht

Day 2 of washing, cleaning and other jobs. All very boring but at least in this new, dog friendly Van der Laan I could wander around, greet any passing strangers and call on my new friend, Harry’s dog (must get his name). Then we went off to Thorn, the white village, to show Roger the scenery and have some lunch. We did a bit of wine tasting as well. Roger bought some presents and Alison stocked up on local rose and fizz.

September 14th 2025 – Maasbracht – Europoort

Last day of boating for 2025 and last entry in this year’s blog. More cleaning and packing up with lots of time fitting Richard’s borrowed bike rack and attaching Brian’s bike to it. It fits on the back door which makes it very heavy to lift – so lifting was minimalised – and as I live in the back it was like being in a prison, with bars at the windows and limited entry and exit. I did get out at the check in though and as usual got very excited about the prospect of my cookies at the window. So excited in fact, they had to give me some before I even got as far as check in. Two of my favourite places in the world are the vets and the Europoort check in. I know, I am weird – I can’t imagine many other canines would agree with me.

Doggy cabin with Roger again on the return trip. Just how I like it, my own bed and plenty of space to stretch out. So before I turn the lights out and wander into the land of nod, I’ll say goodbye, tot ziens, see you all next year when we are heading to France, The Somme and gay Paris apparently.