Marina Seaport IJmuiden: getting there, harbour info and sailing destinations

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Marina Seaport IJmuiden lies on the Dutch North Sea coast west of Amsterdam, right at the mouth of the North Sea Canal and outside the large sea locks. Here you can read how to get to the start of your trip, where to park and shop, what the sailing weather is like, which sailing destinations are nearby, and what skippers need to know about registration, locks and the rules of the sailing area.

Where is the marina in IJmuiden?

Marina Seaport IJmuiden lies on the south side of the outer harbour of IJmuiden, on the extended south pier. It is surrounded by water and nature on three sides: to the west the broad sandy beach of IJmuiden aan Zee, to the south the dunes of the Kennemerduinen, and to the north the harbour entrance with the North Sea. The town of IJmuiden, with its fishing harbour, locks and shopping streets, lies inland to the east.

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The marina has existed since 1994. Since then, offices, a hotel, cafés, beach pavilions, shops and a yacht club have sprung up around the harbour basin. The other harbour basins of IJmuiden, the fishing harbour, the Haringhaven and the IJmondhaven, are not intended for yachts.

Arriving for the start of your sailing trip at Marina Seaport IJmuiden

IJmuiden lies between Haarlem and the North Sea. By bus and train, you can reach Haarlem or Amsterdam from the marina in less than an hour.

From Schiphol Airport to the marina

The nearest major airport is Amsterdam Schiphol. Between Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal, eight Sprinter trains an hour run daily, stopping at Amsterdam Sloterdijk on the way. Change there to line 382. It belongs to the R-net express bus network and runs between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and IJmuiden aan Zee. Buses depart from the marina's harbour office.

By hire car or taxi, you can drive right up to the harbour. The address is Kennemerboulevard 540 in IJmuiden.

By car, train, bus or ferry

By car, you reach IJmuiden via the A9 and A22 from the direction of Alkmaar and Amstelveen, via the N202 from Amsterdam-West or via the N208 from Haarlem. In town, follow the signs towards Strand IJmuiden aan Zee as far as the Kennemerboulevard.

By train, travel to Haarlem and change there to R-net line 385 to IJmuiden, or travel to Amsterdam Sloterdijk and take line 382.

From the UK, you can take the ferry from Newcastle straight to IJmuiden. It docks in the fishing harbour, arrives in the morning and sails back in the late afternoon.

Parking

Guests and visitors pay a fee to park, either on the marina grounds or, more cheaply, in the visitor car park right next to the harbour. You reach the visitor car park by turning left at the first roundabout after the dune. If you drive right to the far end, you only need to cross the boulevard to be on the marina grounds. The Kennemermeer and Kennemerstrand car parks are each around 300 metres from the marina.

On the beach at IJmuiden aan Zee, parking costs a maximum of €12 per 24 hours (as of November 2026). From November to February, the first 30 minutes are free there on weekdays.

Showers and sanitary facilities

The marina has showers and sanitary facilities, and showers are included in the berthing fee. There is also a baby room and a launderette. You open the access to the pontoons and sanitary facilities with the QR code you receive after paying the berthing fee.

Shopping for the trip

There is no supermarket right at the marina. The nearest ones are in town: two DekaMarkt branches around 2.6 and 2.7 kilometres away as the crow flies, and a Vomar around 3 kilometres away. For a big shop, take the car or a bicycle, which you can borrow at reception. Coins for the luggage trolleys are also available there.

A chandlery is about five minutes from the marina by bike.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest pharmacy is the Service Apotheek Zeewijk in town, around 2.6 kilometres from the marina as the crow flies; another is the Apotheek Kuylman, around 3.8 kilometres away. The nearest GP surgery, the Huisartsenpraktijk Pleiaden, is around 3.5 kilometres away. The nearest hospitals are the Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis in Beverwijk on the north side of the North Sea Canal, around 6.5 kilometres from the marina as the crow flies, and the Spaarne Gasthuis Haarlem-Noord, around 7.3 kilometres away as the crow flies.

• 112: emergency number for ambulance, fire brigade and police in life-threatening situations
• At sea: VHF channel 16 or DSC on channel 70, call sign “Den Helder Rescue”, the Dutch coastguard (Kustwacht); by telephone in an emergency on +31 88 958 4040.
• Report accidents and incidents in the harbour area to the Port of Amsterdam traffic control centre via VHF or by telephone on +31 20 523 46 00 (option 2).

What does Marina Seaport IJmuiden offer?

The marina lies right on the sea, outside the locks, and accepts visiting yachts of any size. For yachts up to 18 metres in length, you do not need to reserve; for larger yachts there are spacious pontoons with additional heavy-current power.

Feature	Details
Harbour mouth	52° 27′ 40,57″ N, 004° 33′ 35,19″ E
Address	Kennemerboulevard 540, 1976 EM IJmuiden
Phone	+31 255 560300
VHF channel marina	74
Visitor berths	no reservation needed up to 18 m, berths with a green sign
Visitor berthing fees 2026	€13.00 per night plus €0.62 per square metre, including electricity, water and sanitary facilities
Fuel	Diesel and petrol at the fuel station, 24 hours a day with a card
Technology	Boat lift, mast crane, slipway, winter storage

For the berthing fee, you pay for six nights when staying a week and for 21 nights when staying 30 days; tourist tax is added on top (as of November 2026).

Equipment

The pontoons have shore power and drinking water, and some large pontoons also have 32-ampere, 380-volt connections. At the fuel station, you can fill up with diesel and petrol around the clock on a self-service basis with a bank card or credit card.

For work on your boat, the marina has a boat lift, a mast crane, a slipway for small boats and storage spaces ashore, both indoors and outdoors. The marina stores masts up to 20 metres in length in a mast rack. Waste oil and small quantities of chemicals are accepted at the containers by the commercial centre at the harbour.

The marina has flown the Blue Flag, the international environmental award for beaches and harbours, every year since 1999. The sea rescue service KNRM has a station in IJmuiden and trains regularly in the harbour.

What is the weather like for sailing around IJmuiden?

In the winter half of the year, from October to March, the wind in the Netherlands blows most often from the southwest.

The Dutch weather service KNMI issues a wind warning for the IJmuiden coastal area from Beaufort 6. In the report, "fog" means visibility of less than 1,000 metres.

A tidal stream runs along the coast. It sets south from about four hours after high water IJmuiden, and north from about two hours before high water IJmuiden.

Which destinations are near IJmuiden?

From IJmuiden you can sail out onto the North Sea, south towards Scheveningen or north towards Den Helder, or inland through the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam and on to the IJsselmeer.

• Amsterdam: through the small lock and the North Sea Canal. You can read how to moor in Amsterdam in the profile of the Harbours in Amsterdam.
• IJsselmeer via Amsterdam: East of Amsterdam's city centre, the Oranjesluizen lead onto the Buiten-IJ and on to the Markermeer and IJsselmeer. Leisure boats lock through there at the Noordersluis, following the sign "Sport". As things stand today (November 2026), leisure boats are not locked through there daily between 22:00 and 06:00; the last lockage is at 21:45.
• Scheveningen: south along the coast, ideally with the south-setting stream.
• Den Helder and Texel: north along the coast, ideally with the north-setting stream. From Den Helder you can continue into the Wadden Sea, for example to Harlingen.
• England: Leisure boats leaving for England are advised to stay south of the IJmuiden West Inner and IJmuiden West Outer traffic separation schemes and south of the approach area with its anchorage area.

As things stand today (November 2026), the western standing-mast route via Haarlem and the eastern route through Amsterdam are closed. Anyone wanting to go from north to south therefore heads out onto the North Sea at IJmuiden, provided the yacht is equipped for coastal passages.

What can you do on a harbour day in IJmuiden?

The beach, pier and dunes begin right at the marina. You can easily reach the fishing harbour and the town by hire bike.

• South Pier: It starts at the marina, and it is about 2 kilometres' walk to the pierhead. From there you can see the sea-going ships on their way to Amsterdam, and often porpoises and seals too. In force 6 winds from the southwest, west or northwest, the pier is closed.
• Strand IJmuiden aan Zee: The wide sandy beach begins about 100 metres from the harbour entrance. The beach pavilions are open all year round, and thanks to the waves at the South Pier the beach is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers.
• Kennemerduinen: South of the marina lies the Kennemerduinen nature reserve, with paths for walking, cycling and birdwatching.
• Bunker Route: In the dunes behind the beach there are remains of the Atlantic Wall from the Second World War. A route leads along the bunkers to the beach at IJmuiderslag.
• Fishing harbour and Halkade: IJmuiden is the largest fishing harbour in the Netherlands, with a fish auction and fish quay. At the Halkade you can eat fresh North Sea fish with a view of the harbour, and an excursion boat tours the fishing harbour twice a day.

For skippers: mooring, locks and sea weather in IJmuiden

At Marina Seaport IJmuiden, as a guest you moor at a free berth with a green sign and pay the berthing fee by QR code at the pontoon or at reception. You can reach the marina on VHF channel 74.

Registration and Berthing

Every berth has either a green or a red sign, and guests moor at the green ones. The pontoons are divided by boat length:

• up to 12 metres: Pontoon M, any free berth
• up to 14 metres: Pontoon I or J, berth with a green sign
• up to 16 metres: Pontoon G or H, berth with a green sign
• up to 18 metres: Pontoon F, berth with a green sign

Pontoons K and L are not for guests. Yachts over 18 metres should book in advance, and the harbour master will assign them a berth. The harbour masters also help with mooring and can be reached on channel 74 during your stay.

The easiest way to pay the berthing fee is by QR code at the berth or at the pontoon access. After payment you will receive a QR code for the pontoons and sanitary facilities. At reception you can also pay in cash or by credit card. In the off-season it is staffed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00, although times may vary depending on the weather.

Approach

Coming from the sea, you monitor VHF channel 61 (IJmuiden sector) from 12 nautical miles off the piers all the way to the locks, where you will hear information on crossing traffic. Keep clear of the IJ-Geul if you can, the deep channel for large shipping, and of the leading line on 100.5 degrees. Outside of that, the water is wide and deep enough for leisure boats.

Take in your sails either well before the piers, at least 0.5 nautical miles off, or in the curve of the south pier, staying south of the pierheads, including those of the old south pier. Beyond the pier lights, you pass from the new outer harbour into the old one. The marina lies there directly on the south side. If you are coming from the locks, cross the fairway at right angles behind the Forteiland towards the marina.

In the outer harbour, watch out for the ferry to Newcastle. In the morning it turns in front of the fishing harbour and reverses into it.

IJmuiden Locks and the North Sea Canal

Leisure boats lock through in the small lock on the south side of the lock complex, the small chamber of the Zuidersluis. The locks operate around the clock. Call up on VHF channel 22 if you have a radio on board, or phone the lock on +31 255 564141. Enter the lock only on a green light. In exceptional cases, leisure boats lock through together with inland shipping in the large chamber of the Zuidersluis.

On the way to the lock, you follow the Zuiderbuitenkanal south of the Forteiland and keep to the starboard bank. On the North Sea Canal, block channels apply, which you must monitor if you have a radio: channel 3 up to kilometre 14.8, then channel 4, and from kilometre 19.6 in Amsterdam, channel 5. You will find more details on this hub at the Dutch leisure boating portal Varen doe je Samen from Rijkswaterstaat and the water sports association.

Sailing area rules on the North Sea Canal and in the harbour

The following applies to leisure boats on the North Sea Canal and the IJ:

• Maximum speed for small vessels up to 20 metres in length: 20 km/h.
• Keep as far over to the starboard bank as possible.
• An engine that is ready to start immediately and can make at least 6 km/h is compulsory.
• In poor visibility, a radar reflector is compulsory, both under way and at anchor. Without radar, you moor at the next suitable place.
• The harbour basins are reserved for commercial shipping, as the signs indicate.
• With more than 12 people plus skipper on board, the rules for passenger shipping apply.

In the marina, agree any work on the boat with the harbour masters beforehand. Grinding and welding on steel boats are not permitted.

Which marine weather forecast applies to IJmuiden?

The KNMI Marifoon weather forecast for Dutch coastal waters up to 30 nautical miles offshore, IJmuiden area, applies. It is issued four times a day and is valid for 24 hours. It contains wind warnings from Beaufort 6, wind direction and strength, gusts, weather and visibility. You can read the current forecast on the KNMI Marifoon page.

The coastguard broadcasts the weather forecast on VHF channels 23 and 83 daily at 8.05, 13.05, 19.05 and 23.05 Dutch time. For sea areas further out, there is the English-language NAVTEX report with wind warnings from Beaufort 7. Every morning, an up-to-date weather forecast is available at the marina reception.

Sailing trips from IJmuiden on Törnfinder

You will find sailing trips along the whole Dutch coast and on the inland waters under Sailing in the Netherlands, and sailing trips across the open sea under Sailing in the North Sea. All sailing areas together are listed in the trip overview.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Schiphol Airport to Marina Seaport IJmuiden?

Take the train to Amsterdam Sloterdijk and from there bus line 382 to IJmuiden aan Zee. Buses depart from the marina's harbour office.

Where do I park at the start of the sailing trip at Marina Seaport IJmuiden?

For a fee on the marina grounds, or more cheaply in the visitor car park next to the harbour. The entrance to the visitor car park is at the first roundabout after the dune, on the left.

Are there showers at Marina Seaport IJmuiden?

Yes, showers are included in the mooring fee. There is also a launderette and a baby room.

Where can I shop for provisions in IJmuiden for the trip?

In the supermarkets in town, roughly 2.6 to 3 kilometres from the marina as the crow flies. You can borrow a bicycle at reception for the trip.

Do I need to reserve a visitor berth at Marina Seaport IJmuiden?

No, not for boats up to 18 metres in length. You moor at a free berth with a green sign, with yachts up to 12 metres on pontoon M. Larger yachts should reserve in advance.

Which VHF channel do I use to reach the marina and the lock?

The marina monitors channel 74 and the locks channel 22. In the approach area from the sea to the locks, listen on channel 61.