CRUISING DOUBLE DUTCH

Haarlem and Hoorn are attractive alternatives to visiting Amsterdam by boat. A visit to the city is just an easy train ride away

- Detlef Jens

The two attractive and historically relevant towns of Haarlem and Hoorn, both close to Amsterdam, are easy to visit by boat and have so much to offer.

Just for a moment, picture yourself strolling along quiet canals, past beautiful historic houses on cobbled streets, taking in all the flavours that make the very special atmosphere in an ancient Dutch town. And this, ideally, without having to elbow your way through the crowds or raft up your boat in a packed marina? Here's where to go.

The Netherlands is only a short sailing distance from the UK’s east coast harbours, but once there, you can still experience quite a different culture. Even if you don't arrive by accident - as in the great Arthur Ransome’s book We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea. Ransome sailed his own boat Nancy Blackett across to Flushing (Vlissingen) in order to research the correct navigational details for the book. Today, you will have to plan your route carefully, crossing TSS and navigating around wind parks and the like, none of which Ransome had to bother about in his time. But modern navigation makes it quite easy.

Depending on where you plan to make your Dutch landfall, two truly delightful and historically significant towns each make a rewarding goal to head for. Each of them is at least as pretty as Amsterdam, if not more so. And if you really want to visit Amsterdam, you can easily do so. Short train rides will take you from both towns straight into Amsterdam's main station and city centre.

HAARLEM’S CHARMS