071 931 4127
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Mon – Fri: 9am – 11pm | Sat: 10am – 5pm | Sun: Closed

Waterways and lock closures

Boating vacations rely on waterways, and even during boating season navigation may not always be possible. Disruption could be caused by a lock or bridge needing maintenance, or there may not be the right level of water to safely navigate.

Please be aware that our Base teams are expert in their cruising regions. They will also be happy to provide up to date advice on the best cruising conditions and suggested itineraries on arrival and during your cruise. With the safety and enjoyment of our Customers in mind, we may sometimes advise against navigation within a certain part of the cruising region where local conditions may be challenging at that specific point in time. Conditions continually evolve so it is not always possible to inform you of relevant conditions in advance, however please do use the information below as a guide to the current navigation restrictions in place in our boating regions.

  • Due to scheduled lock maintenance, the following areas will not be accessible between 10th and 23rd August: Fintele, Bruges and Ghent. Cruising is still possible from Nieuwpoort to the entrance of Bruges, from Nieuwpoort to Veurne, and from Nieuwpoort to Ypres, but a round route through Fintele will not be possible.
  • Due to Fintele lock maintenance, customers will not be able to cruise through the Fintele area between 24th August and 2nd October. Cruising remains possible from Nieuwpoort to Veurne and from Nieuwpoort to Ypres, but a round route through Fintele will not be possible.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • Due to public holidays on 1 May and 1 November, locks will be closed, which may restrict how far you can cruise on those days.
  • The Moselle River will be closed from 8 June 2026 until 17 June 2026, and from 31 May 2027 until 9 June 2027. Navigation North Nancy (including Toul) will not be possible during this period.
  • Please note that a licence is required to cruise on Luxembourg and German waterways.
  • Due to a public holiday on 1 May, locks will be closed (except on the Baïse river) which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • Due to public holidays on 1 May and 1 November, locks will be closed, which may restrict how far you can cruise on those days.
  • Please be advised that lock passage between Saint-Jean-de-Losne and Heuilley (Petite Saône) and on the Rhône–Rhine Canal requires pre-booking at least 48 hours in advance on 21 and 22 March 2026.
  • Due to public holidays on 1 May and 1 November, locks will be closed, which may restrict how far you can cruise on those days.
  • Due to a public holiday on 1 May, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • Free navigation will resume on 25 March 2026. For cruises starting between 21 and 24 March 2026, lock passages must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. For a passage on Monday, bookings must be made by Friday morning.
  • Due to a public holiday on 1 May, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • It is not currently possible to navigate The Canal de la Robine past South Narbonne to Port-la-Nouvelle.
  • Free navigation will resume on 25 March 2026. For cruises starting between 21 and 24 March 2026, lock passage is possible only Monday to Friday and must be pre-booked. For a passage on Monday, bookings must be made by Friday morning.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • There are no current restrictions.

Venice Access Fee: Please be aware of the new Venice Access Fee introduced by the Municipality of Venice for occasional visitors on selected days in 2026.

  • When: The fee applies on specific days between 3rd April – 26th July (8:30am-4pm). Outside these dates and hours, no payment will be required. 
  • Where: The fee is required for access to the Ancient City of Venice.  
  • Cost: €5 per person if paid at least four days in advance. €10 per person if paid later than four days before your visit.
  • How to Pay: Payment must be made online through the official Venice Access Fee portal.

For full details and to check the applicable dates, please visit the official Venice Access Fee website.
  • From October 16th to April 15th each year, no starts will be possible on Saturdays from our Vinkeveen base. For the same period the first lock and bridge south of our Vinkeveen base will be closed on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and from midday on Saturdays.
  • Due to new regulations, our boats can no longer enter Utrecht directly. Boats will need to stop at nearby moorings listed below. From these locations, you can use public transportation to reach the city centre.  Here are the estimated travel times from different moorings to Utrecht by public Ttansport: Breukelen: 23 min by train (SPRINTER), Loosdrecht: 1h 15 min by bus and train via Hilversum, Nieuwegein: 25 min by bus, Ijsselstein: 23 min by bus. For easy route planning, we recommend Google Maps. You can also check: Dutch Railways: Nederlandse Spoorwegen – Buy train tickets | NS or  Public Transport Utrecht (in Dutch): Qbuzz
  • Due to the introduction of a low emission zone in central Amsterdam, cruising through this specific area with our boats is no longer permitted.

Need help?

If any of the above information affects your holiday please do contact the team to discuss the options that are available to you +44 (0)203 993 1218