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Enkhuizen lies in North Holland at the tip of a headland between the IJsselmeer and the Markermeer; the harbours reach right up to the old town. Here you can read how to get to Enkhuizen for your trip departure, which harbour is where, where to park and shop, what the sailing weather is like on the IJsselmeer, which sailing destinations are nearby and what skippers should bear in mind when entering and at the lock.
The essentials at a glance
- Enkhuizen is the terminus of the railway line from Amsterdam. From the station it's a few minutes' walk to the municipal harbour; the berths at the Gependam are by the station.
- Traditional vessels berth mainly at the Gependam, at the Harlingersteigers in the Krabbersgat and in the Rommelhoek. Visiting yachts berth in the municipal harbour or in the Compagnieshaven.
- You can park free of charge behind the station and at Dirck Chinaplein; the Compagnieshaven has its own car park with just under 400 spaces.
- An Albert Heijn supermarket in the old town is open daily until 10 p.m., including Sundays.
- On the IJsselmeer there are no tides, so departure time does not depend on the tide. Strong winds do, however, shift the water level at the shores.
Which harbours are there in Enkhuizen?
For sailing trips, three locations in Enkhuizen are important: the Buitenhaven, the first basin of the municipal harbour in the centre of town, the Gependam at the southern end of the municipal harbour directly by the railway station, where traditional vessels moor in particular, and the Compagnieshaven in the north-east next to the Zuiderzeemuseum. From the Gependam to the Compagnieshaven it is a good kilometre as the crow flies.
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More InformationThe municipal harbour consists of three basins for leisure boats. The Buitenhaven is the first basin you enter from the IJsselmeer, with the harbour office at Havenweg 3 right next to the Drommedaris town gate. Through an open old lock beneath the white lift bridge Drommedarisbrug you reach the Binnenhaven, also called Oude Haven. You reach the Oosterhaven in the east of the old town via the Blauwpoortsbrug, where boats lie in boxes at a floating pontoon.
Traditional ships and river cruise ships have their own berths in the municipal harbour. The Gependam at the southern end of the harbour by the railway station is open all year round and is a popular berth for traditional ships. Outside the harbour, along the old town wall in the Krabbersgat, lie the Oude and Nieuwe Harlingersteiger, originally built for these ships. In the Rommelhoek in the Buitenhaven, mainly historic ships are berthed.
The Compagnieshaven is a private yacht harbour with space for around 625 boats; around 18,000 vessels call there every year. It does not belong to the municipal harbour.
Arriving in Enkhuizen for the start of your trip
The railway station, ferry terminal and municipal harbour lie directly next to each other in Enkhuizen. With luggage, the walk from the train to the boat is therefore short.
From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Enkhuizen
The nearest large airport is Amsterdam Schiphol, around 55 kilometres as the crow flies away. By rail you first travel to Amsterdam Centraal and change there to the Intercity to Enkhuizen, which runs via Hoorn to the terminus. You'll find the current connection at the Dutch railway NS or on 9292.nl.
By hire car you drive from Schiphol via Amsterdam northwards towards Hoorn and from there on to Enkhuizen.
By car, train, bus or ferry
Enkhuizen is easy to reach by rail: the town is the terminus of the railway from Amsterdam via Hoorn, and the station building from 1885 stands directly on the water. From there it's around 250 metres as the crow flies to the harbour office of the municipal harbour and just under a kilometre to the Compagnieshaven.
If you're coming by car from the east of the Netherlands, you drive via Lelystad and the dyke Houtribdijk; the N307 road passes under the lock between Markermeer and IJsselmeer at the Naviduct and leads directly to Enkhuizen.
In the summer season, ferries run from Enkhuizen to Stavoren, Urk and Medemblik, and you can take bicycles on all ferries. They depart from the Veerhaven behind the tourist information office next to the railway station. For a crew change or the return trip from Friesland, the ferry to Stavoren is a convenient connection: it takes around 80 minutes and runs three times a day, as things stand (November 2026) on two weekends in April and then from May to the end of September, in May, June and September except Mondays. It does not run in October. In high summer, a ship goes to Urk twice daily except Sundays, and a boat goes to Medemblik with a connection to the museum steam tram to Hoorn.
Where are the harbours in Enkhuizen?
If you're sailing on a traditional ship, you usually go aboard at the Gependam south of the railway station, at the Harlingersteigern in front of the town wall, or in the Rommelhoek. Modern yachts, on the other hand, tend to berth in the Buitenhaven or in the Compagnieshaven. On the way from the station, the Drommedaris town gate serves as an orientation point: it stands at the entrance from the Buitenhaven into the Oude Haven.
Parking
You can park free of charge in the car park behind the railway station and at the Dirck Chinaplein. Overnight stays in campervans are not permitted there. The Compagnieshaven has its own car park with just under 400 spaces; one day costs a maximum of €7.50 there.
Showers and sanitary facilities
The municipal harbour has two sanitary buildings with showers: at the harbour office on Havenweg and opposite at the tourist information office building on the street Tussen Twee Havens. Both are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. At the harbour office there's a family shower all year round; the other showers there open from April to October. A washing machine and dryer are located at the tourist information office; you pay for them with the SEP card from the vending machine. There's also a barrier-free room there from April to October. In the Oosterhaven there are no separate showers.
The Compagnieshaven has two sanitary buildings with showers and a room for washing and drying.
Shopping for the trip
For provisions you go into the old town: the Albert-Heijn supermarket at Westerstraat 188 is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the supermarket has free parking. In the Compagnieshaven there's also a small supermarket and a shop for boat supplies.
Doctor and emergency calls
In the evenings from 5 p.m., at night and at weekends, the Huisartsenspoedpost West-Friesland is responsible — the regional GP emergency service, telephone 0229 297800. It's located at the Dijklander hospital in Hoorn, Maelsonstraat 5, around 17 kilometres as the crow flies from Enkhuizen. You only go there after calling.
- 112: emergency number for police, fire brigade and ambulance service
- On the water: Kustwacht, the Dutch coastguard, around the clock on VHF channel 16 and DSC channel 70, call sign "Den Helder Rescue".
- Without a radio you can reach the Kustwacht via 112 or on 0900-0111 (from abroad +31 88 958 4040).
The sea rescue service KNRM has a station in Enkhuizen at the Krabbersgat. From there they assist on both sides of the dyke between Enkhuizen and Lelystad.
The harbours of Enkhuizen compared
| Feature | Municipal harbour | Compagnieshaven |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Old town and railway station, harbour office Havenweg 3 next to the Drommedaris | Northeast of the town, next to the Zuiderzeemuseum |
| Operator | Municipality of Enkhuizen | Compagnieshaven Enkhuizen BV (private) |
| Berths | Guest yachts in Buitenhaven, Oude Haven and Oosterhaven; traditional vessels at Gependam, at the Harlingersteigern and in Rommelhoek | around 625 boats, guest yachts and permanent berths |
| Login | at the harbourmaster's, VHF channel 12 | at the reporting pontoon in front of the harbour office, or reserve online in advance |
| Phone | Harbour master 06 23 70 03 90, harbour office 0228 312444 | Harbour office 0228 313353 |
| Guest yacht mooring fees 2026 | €2.41 per metre per day (April to October), plus tourist tax €3 per person per night | by boat length, for example €28.50 for 10 to 10.99 m including electricity, water and showers, plus tourist tax €3 per person |
| Showers | two sanitary blocks, 7 am to 11 pm | two sanitary blocks |
Prices and information (as at: October 2026).
The municipal harbour has free Wi-Fi via the Publicroam network; you activate electricity and water with the SEP card. The Compagnieshaven has electricity, water and Wi-Fi at the pontoons, a fuel berth with petrol and diesel at the harbour office, plus a restaurant, a playground, a sailmaker and workshops for engine and electrical work.
What is the weather like in Enkhuizen for sailing?
Around Enkhuizen the wind blows most frequently from the southwest, especially in winter. For IJsselmeer and Markermeer the Dutch weather service KNMI issues a wind warning from force 6 onwards.
IJsselmeer and Markermeer have no tides. The Dutch water authority Rijkswaterstaat controls their water level via locks in the Afsluitdijk. In summer it keeps the level a little higher so that enough fresh water remains in the lake; from October onwards it lies 10 to 30 centimetres lower. The wind has more effect: it pushes the water towards the shore in the wind direction, where the level rises, whilst it falls on the opposite shore. In shallow harbours and channels you notice this in the water depth.
In fresh winds the waves build quickly, often within an hour, in thunderstorms even faster. In a gale they reach an average height of up to 1.5 metres, with individual waves considerably higher.
Which sailing destinations lie near Enkhuizen?
From Enkhuizen you can reach two sailing areas: to the north the IJsselmeer with the Frisian harbours, and through the lock to the south the Markermeer. Many destinations are reached with a short day's sail.
The distances are rounded figures over water on the usual course from the municipal harbour; for precise planning use the chart.
- Medemblik: around 10 nm to the northwest along the coast
- Stavoren: around 12 nm to the north, on the Frisian side of the IJsselmeer
- Urk: around 13 nm to the east, the former island in the IJsselmeer
- Hoorn: around 11 nm on the Markermeer, through the Naviduct
- Lemmer: around 18 nm to the northeast, gateway to the Frisian lakes
- Harlingen: roughly 29 nm, through the lock at Kornwerderzand into the Wadden Sea
For a week's trip, a tour of the Frisian harbours is ideal, or you can link the IJsselmeer and Markermeer via the Naviduct. If you want to venture further out, sail through Kornwerderzand into the Wadden Sea. What awaits you there can be found in the profile of Port of Harlingen.
What can you do on a harbour day in Enkhuizen?
The old town lies directly on the harbour; all destinations are within walking distance. Within the old city walls stand over 360 national monuments.
Drommedaris
The city gate from 1540 once guarded the harbours and still stands today at the entrance to the Oude Haven, a few steps from the harbour office. Later it served as a prison and warehouse; today it is a cultural centre with events and a cinema.
Zuiderzeemuseum
The museum at Wierdijk 12, right next to the Compagnieshaven, shows life on the Zuiderzee before the Afsluitdijk turned it into the IJsselmeer in 1932. According to the current status (October 2026), it is open Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum boats also run there from the Veerhaven at the railway station.
Westerkerk, Waag and Stadhuis
Work began on the Westerkerk around 1470 and took almost 50 years. The Waag from 1559 is one of the early Renaissance buildings in the northern Netherlands; the town hall from 1688 has a largely preserved interior with rich painted decoration.
Snouck van Loosenpark
The houses around the park are among the Netherlands' first social housing projects. In summer a flea market takes place here.
By ferry and steam tram to Hoorn
For a trip without your own boat, take the ferry to Medemblik and from there the museum steam tram to Hoorn.
For skippers: Berthing and sea weather in Enkhuizen
In the municipal harbour you contact the harbourmaster on VHF channel 12; in the Compagnieshaven at the reporting pontoon in front of the harbour office. Between the IJsselmeer and Markermeer you pass through the Naviduct, which you call on VHF channel 22.
Registration and berthing in the municipal harbour
You cannot reserve individual boats in the municipal harbour. On arrival, report to the harbour master on VHF channel 12, by mobile on 06 23 70 03 90 or at the harbour office on 0228 312444, and he will tell you where there is space. When it is busy, the harbour master goes around the harbour and allocates you a berth. Groups of more than ten boats reserve online and then usually lie in the Oude Haven on the Dijk or at the pontoon just before the Wilhelminabrug.
In the Buitenhaven there are various berths: head boxes between wooden piles at the Westerdijk at the end of the basin, a long quay wall on the south side where boats lie rafted together, and a wooden pontoon on the north side where boats moor alongside one another. The Rommelhoek is mainly used by traditional vessels; sometimes there is space for visitors there too. Vessels wishing to moor at the Harlingersteigern also register on VHF channel 12.
Registration and berthing in the Compagnieshaven
You proceed to the reporting pontoon in front of the harbour office, between the first and second pontoon after the entrance, and are allocated a berth there. Don't choose a box yourself, as the berth holder may return at any time. Instead of at the pontoon, you can also lie in the anchorage basin for €10 per night and a maximum of three nights.
You can also reserve a guest berth in the Compagnieshaven in advance; this is only possible online. The system allocates the berth automatically, and payment is made directly when booking. As things stand (November 2026), the harbour office and fuel station are open from Sunday to Thursday from 8am to 4pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 5pm, telephone 0228 313353.
Harbour rules for visitors
- Since 2021, all boats staying overnight in the municipal harbour are recorded in a night register with skipper or owner. A harbour employee checks identification for this purpose.
- You pay the berthing fee in the municipal harbour on the day of arrival, via i-Marina or by QR code on the signs in the harbour. You activate electricity and water with the SEP card, which you buy and top up at the machines on both sides of the Buitenhaven. In the Oosterhaven, this works via an app.
- In the Compagnieshaven, electricity, water and showers are included in the berthing fee; tourist tax is added.
Approach via the Krabbersgat
From the IJsselmeer you enter through the Krabbersgat, the fairway in front of the town. Because of the shallow depth, stay in the buoyed channel and keep to the starboard side; crossing is prohibited there. Expect traffic: commercial vessels to and from the locks, water taxis to the Zuiderzeemuseum, ferries in the Veerhaven and traditional vessels. Entrances here lead to the Veerhaven, the Buitenhaven, the Zuiderzeemuseum harbour and the Compagnieshaven, so look astern as well.
Coming from the Markermeer, also stay in the buoyed fairway because there is an underwater dam. After light buoy KG 27, keep the leading lights on 36 degrees in line.
Naviduct: from the IJsselmeer to the Markermeer
Since 2003, the Naviduct Krabbersgat has connected the IJsselmeer and Markermeer. It is both a lock and an aqueduct: the N307 road passes underneath the lock chamber, so neither cars nor boats have to wait for a bridge. Leisure craft and traditional ships lock through here; the old Krabbersgat lock next to it is reserved for commercial shipping.
Both lock installations are manned around the clock, some times only on request. You call on VHF channel 22: coming from the IJsselmeer "Naviduct-noordzijde", coming from the Markermeer "Naviduct-zuidzijde". The waiting positions are on the starboard side coming from the IJsselmeer, on the port side coming from the Markermeer in front of the Naviduct. Rijkswaterstaat publishes current closures and operating times on vaarweginformatie.nl.
Which marine weather forecast applies to Enkhuizen?
For Enkhuizen, the relevant forecast is the marine VHF bulletin from the Dutch weather service KNMI, which has its own district for the IJsselmeer. It covers coastal waters up to 30 nautical miles offshore and the large inland waters. It is issued four times a day and is valid for 24 hours each time. It includes wind warnings from force 6, and mentions gusts when they are expected to be at least 10 knots above the mean wind.
The Kustwacht broadcasts the weather forecast on VHF channels 23 and 83, daily at 8.05, 13.05, 19.05 and 23.05 Dutch local time. It announces safety and navigation messages a few minutes earlier on channel 16. The current version is available on the KNMI website.
Trips from Enkhuizen on Törnfinder
An overview of the sailing area is given on the page Sailing on the IJsselmeer; trips throughout the country can be found under Sailing in the Netherlands. All current offers are listed in the trip overview.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Schiphol Airport to the harbour in Enkhuizen?
By train via Amsterdam Centraal: there you change to the Intercity to the terminus Enkhuizen. From the railway station you walk a few minutes to the municipal harbour and the Gependam.
Where are the traditional ships moored in Enkhuizen?
Mainly at the Gependam south of the railway station, at the Harlingersteigern in front of the city wall in the Krabbersgat and in the Rommelhoek in the Buitenhaven. All three belong to the municipal harbour.
Where do I park when starting a trip in Enkhuizen?
Free of charge behind the railway station or at Dirck Chinaplein. In the Compagnieshaven the car park costs a maximum of 7.50 euros per day.
Are there showers in the harbours of Enkhuizen?
Yes. The municipal harbour has showers at the harbour office and at the tourist information, open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., plus washing machine and dryer. The Compagnieshaven has two dedicated toilet blocks.
Can I reserve a berth in the municipal harbour of Enkhuizen?
No, not for a single boat. You report to the harbourmaster on VHF channel 12 on arrival; only groups with more than ten boats can reserve.
How do I get from Enkhuizen onto the Markermeer?
Through the Naviduct south of the town, which is manned around the clock. You call the lock on VHF channel 22, from the IJsselmeer as "Naviduct-noordzijde".
