one of the Netherlands’ most cherished traditions unfolded on Saturday with contrasting scenes of celebration and tension across several towns While the event proceeded peacefully in Vianen protests and clashes overshadowed festivities in Middelharnis and Yerseke In Yerseke, four people were arrested during the Sinterklaas arrival due to disturbances surrounding a protest by the activist group Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) which involved about 20 activists opposing the inclusion of fully blackface-painted Zwarte Piet characters and a 30-year-old man from Kruiningen were detained on charges of throwing food a 31-year-old man from Colijnsplaat was arrested for incitement nearly 100 counter-protesters disrupted the demonstration the municipality of Reimerswaal issued an emergency order granting police the authority to clear individuals from the area to prevent further escalation KOZP staged another protest near the harbor where Sinterklaas arrived around 2 p.m The protest attracted dozens of counter-protesters and threw eggs and apples at the activists Police made at least four arrests related to minor offenses The heavy police presence included officers on the ground The Sinterklaas procession in Middelharnis continued on schedule despite the tense atmosphere with large crowds gathering along the quaysides the national Sinterklaas arrival in Vianen The steamship carrying the saint faced minor setbacks when it temporarily got stuck under a bridge and made an unscheduled detour to Ameide before finally arriving in Vianen around midday Mayor Sjors Fröhlich greeted Sinterklaas upon his arrival and the event proceeded with a parade through the historic town center “It all went very well,” said a spokesperson for the municipality of Vijfheerenlanden “We look back on a fantastic arrival.” The atmosphere remained festive and cheerful with no reports of demonstrations or safety concerns the docking area for the steamship became crowded but the event ran smoothly without needing to close any sections of the parade route KOZP activists in Yerseke were escorted to their bus by police with demonstrators leaving the harbor under police supervision This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page one of the leading gatherings of the macroalgal industry is heading to Rotterdam from 17 to 19 June Under the theme “Seaweed 2.0: Today’s Scaling for Tomorrow’s Needs” this year’s conference will focus on scaling up and professionalising the seaweed sector to meet the growing global demand for sustainable solutions With an emphasis on collaboration across the value chain Seagriculture EU 2025 will gather seaweed farmers The event opens on 17 June with site visits and participants can choose to visit either Hortimare in Heerhugowaard or the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in Yerseke. The site visits have limited capacity and spots are filling quickly, so early registration is encouraged. More information about the site visits can be found here At Hortimare participants will have the chance to see their culture collection the Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems invites you to their facilities in Yerseke for a scientific meeting and a tour to experience their seaweed research facilities This meeting will be co-organised by the NWO-KIC Aquatic Food production projects CircAqua The main conference programme runs from 18 to 19 June and includes five plenary sessions two panel discussions and a series of seaweed elevator pitches exploring key themes and innovations from across the seaweed landscape creating space for academic dialogue and exchange throughout the event the trade show will provide a platform for seaweed-focused businesses to showcase their products and services will further encourage connection and collaboration among attendees The Second World War had a massive impact particularly in Europe and led to a wave of migration of a war-torn population seeking a better life in another country Many eyes focused on Australia as the land of opportunity It was the Dutch connection that brought Jozias ‘Sos’ de Koeyer to Australia and eventually to Swan Bay (Pipeclay Creek) Back in Holland both the de Koeyer and Salm families were heavily involved in the oyster industry where they were well known and respected as they are to this day who was well established working for the Phillips family in Swan Bay returned to Holland after seven years working on oyster farms in Australia He knew the de Koeyers well and arrived at their home in Yerseke for a cup of coffee and to reacquaint with the family Adrian stayed into the night telling the family that there was plenty of work available in the oyster industry in Port Stephens Sos was working on mussels and oysters in Holland for his father and grandfather and had gathered valuable experience Back in the 1950s the Dutch Government was encouraging emigration and was paying 50 percent of the trip if you stayed for a minimum of three years “Why don’t I go and have a look?” thought Sos A few blocks away in the same town of Yerseke another young family was having similar thoughts John Padmos was the son of a successful oyster and mussel grower Word had spread through the village that John Padmos was considering migrating Adrian convinced John to move to Australia where they worked together until 1984 in the Port Stephens oyster industry nineteen-year-old Sos de Koeyer flew from Amsterdam to Sydney Port Stephens where accommodation had been arranged for him by Stan Phillips “My wages started off with £12/10/0 at Oyster Cove,” Sos said “I only came with £25 in my pocket which was the minimum amount that you were permitted to land with in Australia – any less and you would be picked up as a vagrant.” Sos gathered enough money to buy a DKW 250 motorbike from Hazel and Moore in Hunter Street Oddly enough later in 1959 Sos purchased a block of land on the waterfront at Tanilba Bay for £175 In 1960 Sos moved out of Oyster Cove and in with Jim Brown who owned the boat shed in Tanilba Bay After a couple of years Sos moved in with Jacky and Mrs Gale who had tired of Sos’ continuous attempts to learn to play the piano accordion Sos lived with the Gales until he married in 1964 Among his fondest memories of living with the Gales were of the lunches that were packed daily for him by Mrs Gale – two freshly caught blue swimmer crabs Sos de Koeyer’s first boat purchased in 1960 cost $150 – the ‘Pumpkin’ built in England of New Zealand kauri and originally designed as a tender for a sea going ship driven by a 10-12 Simplex with forward and reverse gear box The boat was previously owned by a school teacher at Bobs Farm and was left sinking in the mud in Tilligerry Creek With the help of oyster farmer John Browne the boat was lifted from the mud and with some work ‘Pumpkin’ was back on the water Taking every opportunity to expand his growing interests Sos knew a good deal when he saw it “There was a big vacant oyster lease about 300 yards long adjacent to the houses in North Arm Cove,” Sos said “I learnt this when I was working for the Phillips in Sydney “On my return to Port Stephens I rode my motorbike to the Fisheries offices in Tea Gardens and Karuah in an attempt to purchase the lease which turned out to be a deceased estate.” In 1961 Sos bought the lease which produced beautiful oysters in ideal growing conditions for £200 In 1962 Sos purchased a catching lease at Corlette and a growing lease in North Arm Cove off Claude Johnson who had the boat shed in Karuah He put out 2000 sawn sticks to start with in North Arm Cove and over the next two and a half years a beautiful crop of oysters was coming on when disaster hit “I must do the best I can with these few oysters that have survived,” he said The young oysterman set up a bench in a shed that he had bought for £10 from Newcastle and started opening the oysters that remained Sos purchased second hand bottles from the bottle yard in Hunter Street and washed them in a bathtub with the chip heater boiling the water Then he would put the bottles of oysters in the saddle bags of his motorbike and head off on Thursdays – pay day – to the Sea Breeze Hotel in Nelson Bay He would sell the bottles alongside the fishermen “We would buy more if they were bottled in salt water,” they asked Everyone knows that oysters swell in fresh water and are far bigger and more attractive to the buyer; in salt water they shrink It also takes less oysters to fill a bottle if they are sold in fresh water However the customers in Nelson Bay preferred the taste of their oysters in salt water he bottled the oysters in fresh water and on his way to Nelson Bay he stopped his bike at Mambo Creek and replaced the fresh water with salt water This process did not give the oysters time to shrink before they were bought salty oysters and the patrons couldn’t get enough of them Through the week Sos continued to work for the Phillips family and each Saturday he worked the Salm – Padmos leases in Tanilba Bay It was there that he noticed a “wonderful girl” regularly walking along the beach He learnt that the young lady’s family had a dry cleaning agency in the general store and post office in King Albert Avenue “I finished up having a lot of dry cleaning.” Kay and Sos were married in the Baptist Church in Wallsend and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The arrival of Sinterklaas, a cherished Dutch tradition, unfolded across the Netherlands on Saturday, with contrasting scenes of festive celebrations and protests. While Vianen welcomed the saint without disruptions, the nearby town of Middelharnis saw demonstrations and heightened security due to ongoing tensions surrounding Zwarte Piet the activist group Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) staged a protest against the continued use of blackface makeup for Zwarte Piet characters The Goeree-Overflakkee municipality implemented stringent security measures to ensure the event proceeded peacefully Officials worked closely with the event organizers and emergency services to safeguard what Mayor Ada Grootenboer-Dubbelman described as “a smooth and joyful children’s celebration.” The mayor issued a stern warning to potential counter-protesters earlier in the week after receiving reports of plans to disrupt the KOZP demonstration “I urge everyone not to do so,” Grootenboer-Dubbelman said “This children’s celebration is absolutely not the place for tensions The presence of KOZP at other Sinterklaas arrivals remains uncertain Group leader Jerry Afriyie confirmed that KOZP recently sent over 30 letters to municipalities where Zwarte Piet is still featured Afriyie noted that “constructive conversations” have taken place with several local governments While KOZP did not protest in De Lier and ’s-Gravenzande in the Westland municipality this year police intervened when Zwarte Piet supporters attacked KOZP demonstrators with eggs and cans during the Sinterklaas arrival in De Lier KOZP joined forces with XR Zeeland and Zeeland Kan Het to stage another protest against Zwarte Piet during the local Sinterklaas arrival had not received confirmation from KOZP about their attendance as of Saturday morning it was still unclear whether the protest would go forward,” said a spokesperson for the municipality officials had been anticipating the possibility of a demonstration and had begun preparing measures to ensure safety Further details about the protest's progression are expected later in the day KOZP also acknowledged that despite plans to protest at thirteen other locations these demonstrations were ultimately called off after successful negotiations with local Sinterklaas committees and municipalities we trust that these locations will now host inclusive celebrations for all children,” the group said KOZP emphasized its collaborative approach noting that while the intention behind traditional Sinterklaas celebrations is positive “We are pleased that these committees are working with us to ensure a safe and inclusive celebration,” the group added They plan to evaluate the progress with the municipalities next year Sinterklaas's traditional arrival on his steamship unfolded without incident the saint disembarked at the Passantenhaven in the fortified city greeted by a crowd of approximately 20,000 people after which he paraded through the city center accompanied by his helpers Sinterklaas and his Piets enjoyed performances by a local dance school and a trampoline demonstration Vianen reported no signs of protests or controversies “We have not received indications of large-scale demonstrations about national issues,” the municipality announced earlier this week Zoologger is our weekly column highlighting extraordinary animals – and occasionally other organisms – from around the world By Sandrine Ceurstemont Marine worms have been spotted growing sprouts in their burrows a type of cultivation never seen before in animals other than humans Ragworms (Hediste diversicolor) were thought to consume the seeds of cordgrass an abundant plant in the coastal habitats where they live so it was a mystery how the worms could access the edible interior Zhenchang Zhu at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research in Yerseke and his team have now discovered the worms’ surprising trick: they bury the seeds and wait for them to germinate later feeding on the juicy sprouting shoots They prey on small invertebrates and suck up plant debris from soil the most abundant source of food in their environment “The process of sprouting improves the digestibility and quality of the food,” says Zhu Zhu and his team think the ragworms started cultivating sprouts partly because of a lack of high-quality food sources in their habitat Although the worms were initially about the same size compared with 5 per cent for those that stuck to raw seeds and sediment Ted Schultz an entomologist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC thinks that sprout cultivation could be important to the worms’ survival and that this is a sophisticated adaptation because they must wait to harvest the food rather than consuming it immediately “The behaviour will likely be favoured by evolution and future generations of ragworms will also store seeds and reap the deferred benefits,” he says Ragworms are not the first animals to take up farming. Some beetles, termites and ants have cultivated fungus since long before humans started growing crops And there are likely to be further examples: Zhu and his team think the ragworms may be cultivating bacteria in their burrows as a source of food The researchers also suspect that earthworms could be sprout-growers because they are thought to supplement their diets with seeds “They have similar problems finding high-quality food,” says Zhu Journal reference: Ecology, DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1613 Read more: Bacteria ‘gardeners’ farm algae to harvest when food runs out Scelta Products is adding capacity with a third Netherlands factory expanding the Canadian firm’s position in frozen appetisers Privately-owned McCain, the world’s largest frozen potato products supplier, already operates in the Netherlands via its majority stake taken in Van Geloven in 2016 “The Scelta Products acquisition is a further sign of McCain’s commitment to maintain and strengthen its position in the global prepared appetiser market,” the New Brunswick-based business said Scelta produces frozen vegetable appetisers such as onion rings and battered and breaded mushrooms adding it operates two plants in Yerseke and Kruiningen with another under construction in Rilland said: “With common customers and shared values as family-owned companies there is a natural complement between McCain Foods and Scelta Products We feel honoured and privileged to build on the legacy of Scelta Products bringing their delicious product to our customers as we expand on the fantastic business that Scelta’s founders have created.” The deal, which closed on 8 September, adds to similar investments McCain has made in recent years in frozen appetisers and convenience. In 2021, it took a minority interest in Dublin-based Strong Roots Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Further afield in Brazil, the Canadian business acquired a 70% holding in Sérya in 2019 another investment recipient of McCain through a 49% interest Scelta has been a business partner of McCain for the past 13 years Co-founders Jos Koster and Wilco Boone added: “After more than a decade of building a successful business partnership we are thrilled to officially become part of the McCain Foods family a global leader in prepared appetiser products with similar business values to ours I am confident that the legacy of Scelta Products will continue to be built upon.” Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Food Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network these 'termites of the sea' have been sinking ships and collapsing wharves with their insatiable appetites we still don't know how they devour so much woody plant material as fast as they do "It's unbelievable," says microbiologist Reuben Shipway from the University of Portsmouth in the UK Christopher Columbus lost his fleet due to what he called 'the havoc which the worm had wrought,' and shipworms cause billions of dollars of damage a year." shipworms have been largely neglected by scientists we know very little about how these keystone marine organisms digest woody plant material Center for Materials and Coastal Research) Unlike wood-devouring animals on land, such as termites and earthworms shipworms don't seem to tackle lignin in the same way They are missing the enzymes that usually break down this tough material "I combed through the entire genomes of five different species of shipworm, looking for specific protein groups which create the enzymes that we know are capable of digesting lignin," says microbiologist Stefanos Stravoravdis from the University of Massachusetts So how are shipworms digesting all that wood Previous research on this group of saltwater clams has also failed to identify any enzymes known to break down lignin – only those that break down cellulose Still, enzymes aren't the only way an organism can tackle woody material. Take the gribble worm, for instance. This is another wood-boring marine crustacean that doesn't use enzymes to break down the lignin in its meals. Instead, the gribble worm secretes hemocyanins in its gut which are proteins that can make lignin more porous allowing other enzymes to penetrate and break down the cellulose inside Some fungi also use a non-enzymatic strategy when gobbling up wood. The brown rot fungi, for instance, supplements a small suite of gut enzymes with an array of reactive oxygen species, which can break down lignin even faster than enzymes While these marine crustaceans are much less of a nuisance to our infrastructure today, they are still important players in certain ecosystems. They are worth knowing about, especially since their digestive system could help us to eventually source greener forms of energy from leftover wood. accessing biofuels within surplus wood is an expensive and inefficient process But there might be something to learn from animals and fungi that have been tackling this tough substrate for much longer than ourselves The study was published in Frontiers in Microbiology Your FREE registration gives you access to all our content: news and feature articles As a paying subscriber this would cost £150 per year – but we are extending an offer to register FREE for full access Register now for £150 FREE I would like to be sent emails from Fish Farmer Magazine I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties and will only be used  to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen You are not permitted to copy, republish, reproduce any text, photos, graphics, sounds from this website without written permission from editor@fishfarmermagazine.com IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines Boating is a way of life in the Netherlands where water occupies a significant proportion of the country’s surface area Behind Holland’s North Sea flood defences lies an extraordinary network of canals grand estuaries and rivers alive with ships and barges on an impressive scale Since the notorious storm surge disaster of 1953 the Dutch have worked tirelessly to protect their low lands from the sea and their long-term planning has always included an integrated waterway system not just for commercial traffic but also pleasure boating window._taboolaSlots=window._taboolaSlots||[];window._taboolaSlots.push({"mode":"thumbnails-a-mid","container":"taboola-mid-article","placement":"Mid Article","target_type":"mix"}); Holland offers visitors a feast of unique and amazingly varied cruising surprisingly close to our own south and east coasts If you haven’t yet savoured its many attractions Zeeland Bridge is the longest in Holland measuring over 5km from end to end It is of course delightful to visit old Flemish harbours lined with traditional brick buildings and cobbled quays or meander along rural canals past picturesque villages and grazing cows But it’s also fascinating to see the massive sea walls enclosing dykes and huge shipping locks so painstakingly constructed over 60 years – incredible projects reflecting the determined spirit of this small but successful nation I have chosen my four favourite boating areas each providing different facets of the Netherlands experience You could potter in Holland for a lifetime of summers and still find new routes to explore but for me the cruising grounds of Zeeland the Waddenzee and Friesland are the places to start whether you are aboard your own boat or chartering for a week or two Holland has countless harbours and marinas for pausing between cruise stages so a two or three-season plan is perfectly feasible Zeeland is the south-west corner of the Netherlands an easy destination from the Thames and Essex rivers Solent boats can work up the English coast to Dover cross to Calais and follow the inshore fairways towards the West Schelde its long peninsulas jutting out like tadpoles towards the North Sea The most popular gateway to these beautiful landscapes is Vlissingen but I prefer to head straight into the waterways to Middelburg you pass two lifting-bridges before turning into Middelburg harbour where tall Flemish houses line the cobbled quays with a bar and hospitable members always game to pass on local information Middelburg has a 12th century abbey and a grandiose town hall The Thursday market is one of Zeeland’s largest Veere is a postcard celebration of a Zeeland harbour Boats lie to wooden staging and the north side is softened by grassy banks Veerse Meer is bordered by the picture postcard settlement of Veer The south quay has elegant houses and café terraces dappled with shade from sycamore trees From the pierheads you look out across the Veerse Meer an enchanting lake dotted with islands and secluded jetties where a lock leads out into the East Schelde river Emerging from the Veerse Meer into the Schelde you can hang a left towards the spectacular Zeeland road bridge the medieval settlement of Zierikzee is reached by a sleepy mile-long canal or you can continue up to the old town harbour where two white drawbridges cry out for the clatter of hooves and rumble of carriage wheels The harbour at Goes is enveloped by ornate Dutch architecture A locked cut leads to an exquisite town basin graced by Renaissance-style houses Yerseke is intriguing because of all the shellfish boats coming and going Yerseke is renowned for its succulent mussels which are superb eaten raw – like oysters – with just a squeeze of lemon juice and some crisp New Zealand Sauvignon The ‘cul-de-sac’ of Grevelingenmeer is home to several marinas you follow the wide barge route towards Rotterdam At the end of this vibrant reach you pass through a shipping lock and can turn into the open spaces of Grevelingenmeer a cul-de-sac between the two northern islands of the original Zeeland delta This glorious boating lake has several marinas and some idyllic small islands the IJsselmeer is a famous expanse of sheltered water spreading 40 miles north from Amsterdam a 30-mile barrage has two large locks allowing yachts To get here you can follow waterways north from the Veerse Meer via Rotterdam or reach Amsterdam by sea via IJmuiden and the North Sea ship canal Don’t miss staying in Amsterdam for a while with their ornate bridges and prestigious houses built on East India fortunes opposite central station on the north side of the canal This restful oasis is an ideal sightseeing base tiny Marken ‘island’ is now joined to the mainland by a causeway road a white lighthouse and rickety timber cottage perch on a spit almost in the water Marken harbour is clustered round a quaint fishing village Monnickendam has three marinas and a genial coterie of English berth-holders Edam harbour is one of many historic ports-of-call around the non-tidal IJsselmeer This amiable port is approached along a mile-long canal and you must call here for some cheese culture but we go up to the Nieuwe Haven to be near the action In the 17th century Edam ranked with Amsterdam as a trading and shipbuilding hub but now its name is inevitably linked with cheese The summer cheese markets are worth seeing when wheels of mature yellow Edam are brought into town by boat or horse-drawn cart but the true atmosphere of the place hangs over the quayside berths in the Binnenhaven where a park of spreading chestnuts looks across to a row of merchants’ houses the original headquarters of the Dutch East India Company still bears the esteemed VOC trademark the legendary Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie employed over 25,000 people worldwide Enkhuizen is home to the Zuider Zee museum which describes life around the estuary before it was landlocked Enkhuizen is a sociable haven at the west end of the 12-mile barrage that divides the IJsselmeer in two Arriving from the south you pass through a cavernous lock where an invisible operator sits high in his control tower Enkhuizen has a stunning fleet of sailing barges Their majestic rigs are seen all around the IJsselmeer and many cruise out to the islands and byways of the Waddenzee Four offshore windmills a mile from the pierheads are visible from far out in the IJsselmeer A fairytale fortress commands the harbour entrance Up in the Oosterhaven you can lie alongside a classic Dutch quay or go further up to a lifting bridge and into Westerhaven Out beyond the IJsselmeer locks you’ll find a completely different kind of cruising area which looks like open water but is actually protected by the Frisian Islands a maze of navigable channels with enough nifty pilotage for many seasons’ cruising The most accessible part of the Waddenzee is enclosed by the islands of Texel they seem like a trick of the light until you pick up some ghostly landmark – a solitary lighthouse or church or a skeletal beacon on the edge of the dunes but all these islands have marinas and a warm welcome Barrelling through a brisk Waddenzee chop off the mainland side of Texel island Texel is a treat to visit with your own boat Oudeschild harbour is an interesting run from either of the IJsselmeer locks and you’ll see its village spires red rooftops and a windmill just south of the entrance turn to starboard for Waddenhaven Texel Marina Texel is ideal for cycling and you can follow coast paths from the harbour On the seaward side of the island is a 13-mile driftwood beach Vlieland is the smallest of the inhabited Waddanzee islands The harbour at its east end has a narrow entrance but inside there are modern pontoons and all facilities A short stroll takes you to Oost-Vlieland village where the shops and cafés are ranged along a single main street The nearby lighthouse is sometimes open to visitors and has breathtaking views on a clear day In quiet weather you can savour genuine Waddenzee vibes by anchoring in the narrow gullies off the south-east corner of Vlieland A good spot is half-a-mile south-east of the lighthouse between the shore and miles of drying banks West Terschelling harbour has plenty of space for ferries In the late afternoons you can watch dozens of big barges manoeuvring alongside with panache These ships are perfectly adapted for Dutch shoals with flat bottoms and sometimes barely a metre draught on 100ft length Terschelling is still alive with bars and bistros Because of its relatively wide approach from seaward West Terschelling was an important trading and whaling port between the 16th and 18th centuries Old paintings show ocean-going ships packed along the quays The island’s huge square Brandaris lighthouse towers above the harbour Brandaris is the oldest lighthouse in the Netherlands The lively town has plenty of bars and bistros The best way to explore the rest of the island is by bike The long north coast dunes and beaches have a liberating feeling of room to breathe Once an independent province and still flying its own flag Friesland is the farthest Dutch cruising area for UK boats Behind the long sea wall lie some of the most enticing waterways in Europe easily entered from the Waddenzee at Harlingen or from various east IJsselmeer harbours including Workum invigorating quality as summer breezes waft through the reeds and wetlands imagining what the North Sea is like outside you meander through peaceful panoramas in still water This route can take you from the IJsselmeer all the way to the River Eems useful for anyone bound for the Baltic by the Kiel Canal The Friesland waterways and meers wind through sleepy rural wetlands that provide a perfect cruising escape This picture-book town is reached by a short spur off the Prinses Margriet Kanaal the first part of the inland route from the IJsselmeer to the rather civilised port of Leeuwarden This canal is suitable for sizeable barges which push across the low open country amongst the mêlée of motor boats The turning to Sneek leads west off Sneekermeer bridges and linked canals creating a rich gallery of watery vistas The Waterpoort is a particular architectural highlight an ornate canal bridge flanked by two slim towers built in the early 17th century as the original harbour gate The windmills at Dokkum have been preserved since 1652 The cultured capital of Friesland lies at a crossroads on the waterways’ route across the north edge of the Netherlands A summer passage through the town’s lifting-bridges is a sociable jamboree with all kinds of boats jostling about and spectators lining the quays under the plane trees at Westerstadsgracht Canal bridges are as natural in Holland as pedestrian crossings in England swing or slide in a hundred different ways or as soon as there are a few boats waiting so once you get a green press on and don’t dither Friesland waterway bridges often levy a small fee (brug geld) and some operators lower a Dutch clog on a fishing rod to collect these dues Have plenty of change ready along these sections The amount to pay is usually displayed on a notice just before the bridge Schiermonnikoog’s wild sand dunes and salt-marshes are oases of real solitude Lauwersmeer was once tidal but is now enclosed by the coastal dyke and reached from the sea by a lock in Lauwersoog harbour The meer has some wonderful sheltered anchorages amongst the fens and wildlife Schiermonnikoog is the last inhabited Dutch Frisian island before the German frontier Lauwersoog marina is just inside the sea-lock in Noordergat basin If you are here a day or two it’s worth taking the ferry out to Schiermonnikoog for a real taste of Frisian remoteness Eight-miles long with a shallow harbour on its south-west corner Schiermonnikoog has a village and a few cultivated fields but most of the island tails away to salt-marshes and dunes and at low water the drying sands between the island and mainland are extraordinary to see.