This is what you need to know about electric sailing if you live in Vathorst. From 2020, it will no longer be allowed to sail with a fuel engine in Amersfoort. Electric sailing means less inconvenience and better for the environment. But what should you take into account if you want to take a boat into nature from Vathorst? Electric sailing! So your boat is plugged in throughout Amersfoort. But what does that mean for Amersfoorters who live in De Laak and have their boat there? We looked into some things for you, because something is going to change. Mooring in De Laak In the period between November 1 and April 1, boats may only be moored along your own garden. This year there is a transition phase and residents can still moor along public banks, as long as the boats are properly moored and are not full of water or in danger of sinking. Charging points For some time now, the municipality of Amersfoort has installed charging stations at three locations: one at the Workumsluis, Markenhaven and the Durgerdamhaven. A fourth charging point will be realized at De Kooi. Charging is easy, all instructions are on the signs next to the charging stations. Charging points for electric motors There are 3 charging points for electric boats in Vathorst. On the Vathorst De Laak 2024 mooring map you can see where the charging points are. The 3 charging points can no longer be used for free. The municipality will offer them at a rate of €0.50 per kWh until at least 2025. Source: https://indebuurt.nl/amersfoort/doen/moet-weten-elektrisch-varen-vanuit-vathorst~11272/

New rules for the mooring permit now apply to Haarlem residents who are still looking for a berth for their boat. The municipality only issues permits for boats that do not emit harmful emissions. Anyone who has a dirty boat and is on the waiting list for a mooring will no longer receive a permit. Last week, the municipal council agreed to a number of adjustments to the Haarlem Waters Regulation. These are the rules that apply on the water in the city. The most important change concerns the issuing of mooring permits. Zero emissions Haarlem has a long waiting list for people looking for a berth for their boat. The city council has now decided that people on the waiting list who have a boat that emits harmful substances will not receive a permit. With this, the municipality wants to reduce CO2 emissions into the water. Boats that are electrically powered or propel with muscle power are eligible for a mooring permit. Waiting list People who register for the waiting list pay more than 80 euros in fees. That money will be refunded to boat owners who opt out of the waiting list because the new rules no longer have a chance of obtaining a permit. Once you have a berth, you pay an annual fee for it. Owners of boats that do not produce emissions will now receive a 20 percent discount on the mooring fee. Nothing will change for people who already have a mooring permit for a fossil fuel boat. The new rules also make it easier to have neglected and sunken boats removed. It will also become easier to temporarily move vessels, if necessary for work on the quay, for example. A large majority of the city council agreed to the changes. Only Forum for Democracy and BVNL voted against. The rules take effect immediately. Source: https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/341488/eigenaren-van-vieze-boten-krijgen-geen-ligplaats-meer-in-haarlem

This year, Haarlem will start refusing mooring permits for boats that are not electrically powered. The city council announced this intention this week. Encouraging citizens to electrify their boats will help reduce CO2 emissions, Haarlem believes. No longer issuing permits for boats powered by diesel or another fossil fuel is an old wish of the municipal council. This already passed a motion in October 2020 to get it done. The council members were inspired by Utrecht, where such a ban was already in force. With some delay, the Haarlem city council is now making that wish come true. The rules only apply to new applications. Those on the waiting list for a berth, on the other hand, will have to deal with the new restriction. If those waiting still want to refuse a permit because they do not want or cannot purchase electric boats, the municipality will reimburse them for the fees paid. Source: https://www.haarlemsdagblad.nl/regio/haarlem/dieselboten-binnenkort-niet-meer-welkom-bij-haarlemse-ligplaatsen.-co2-emissies-terugdringen/14851246.html

Everyone wants clean air. We are therefore taking measures to improve air quality in Amsterdam. All forms of transport must be emission-free within 10 years. This also includes water transport. This will apply to the city center from 2025. From 2030 also for the rest of the Amsterdam water. Emission-free boats will receive a 70 percent discount on inland harbor dues until January 1, 2025. Participation Emission-free zone for pleasure craft from 2025 The municipality wants to establish an emission-free zone for pleasure craft in the center area from January 1, 2025. You could give your opinion on this policy intention from April 22 to June 10, 2024. The policy intention and all relevant information can be found at www.amsterdam.nl/inspraak More charging spots Few residents with a boat sail emission-free. Amsterdam residents who are considering electric sailing often indicate that there are too few charging places. Residents who own an electric vessel also experience a lack of charging options. We have therefore installed 10 charging stations for pleasure craft in the city. The charging stations are spread across the East, South and Center districts. The first 5 are now ready for use. There is room to charge 2 vessels at the same time per charging station. The mooring is only for charging electric vessels. The vessel may be at the charging station for a maximum of 24 hours. Costs and discount To pay, log in to the on/off app. This makes it easy and safe to charge. The price is 0.28 euros per kWh (incl. VAT). Emission-free vessels with a berth on Amsterdam's public waters currently receive a 70% discount on inland port dues. Power boat A pilot with charging points at houseboats on the water has also been started. This pilot is being carried out by the Stroomboot company in collaboration with the municipality of Amsterdam. There will be charging points on the houseboats and any catering establishments on the water where boats can moor to charge. The first Stroomboot charging point in the Houthavens is ready for use. Subsidy options for charging points Entrepreneurs, companies, foundations and associations that want to install charging points can apply for various subsidies. Source: https://www.amsterdam.nl/verkeer-vervoer/varen-amsterdam/elektrisch-varen/

Utrecht - One-way traffic and a night-time sailing ban on the Oudegracht, from 2030 only electrically powered boats and Utrecht residents with a house on the water will have to pay if they have moored a boat. These are some of the plans that the municipality of Utrecht announced today in the City Water Vision. Utrecht has been seeing its city water become increasingly busy for years. The plans must manage this crowd better, the council says. In addition, according to the municipality, there was no overarching vision on how to deal with city water. Utrecht residents with a house on the water will have to pay if they have moored a boat. That is one of the proposals from councilor Susanne Schilderman in the City Water Vision. Renters of canoes and SUPs (Stand Up Paddleboards) will also have to pay for use of the Utrecht water if it is up to the alderman. Boat owners who have their vessel at home will also have to apply for a permit. This will be refused if the boat does not have an electric motor. There will be more specific jetties for canoeists and the passage through the Weerdsluis will be free for the canoe. At the moment, canoes have to pay a few euros if they want to go from the Vecht to the Oudegracht or back. The City Water Vision is about more than pleasure boating. Councilor Schildeman (D66) explains how she believes the city should deal with the water. It is also about supplying the city, walking along the water, skating in the winter, swimming in the summer and much more. The Vision contains details that have already become known. For example, it is being investigated whether a number of unofficial swimming spots in the city can be legalized, such as at De Munt and in the Veilinghaven. The vision also states that a lot of nuisance is experienced in those two places. For example, residents around the Veilinghaven are bothered by noise and waste. Swimmers also climb onto boats and jetties. Emission-free From 2030, it will be prohibited to sail motorboats on the Utrecht city water, and tourists passing through will no longer be welcome if they do not have an electric motor. The ban will be introduced in phases, and Utrecht residents must switch to electric sailing from 2025. The vision includes more future bans. For example, a night-time canoe trip on the Oudegracht is prohibited. Sailing is only allowed on the city water in Utrecht from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shipping company Schuttevaer has been providing boat trips through the Utrecht canals for decades. This icon of the Utrecht tourist industry is in danger of suffering the same fate as stall sellers in Utrecht also fear. They had a permanent place in the city for years. However, their place now has to be put out to tender, and there is therefore a chance that they will lose that place. The same will happen with the moorings of tour boats. These permits will also expire after five years in the future, after which a new permit must be applied for. New entrepreneurs can then compete for the berths. Schuttevaer may therefore disappear from the city. Traffic lights on the water In the long term, the alderman wants to introduce one-way traffic on the Oudegracht. All vessels, including canoes and SUPs, may only sail from north to south. Because this decision causes problems for larger yachts and work vessels, they are allowed to continue sailing in both directions. These ships cannot sail over the canals because the bridges there are too low. To avoid confusion at the Stadhuisbrug, which is a narrow tunnel for boats, a traffic light system is being installed there. Tap the fingers And then one more remarkable proposal from the City Water Vision. To prevent people - especially young people - from jumping off bridges over the Merwede Canal in the summer, those bridges are covered with asphalt that hurts bare feet. The city council will soon discuss the City Water Vision. If adopted, implementation could start in 2024. Would you like to read more about the plans? The City Water Vision can be found on the municipality's website. source:   https://www.rtvutrecht.nl/nieuws/3585909/oudegracht-eenrichtingsverkeer-en-betalen-voor-boot-in-achtertuin-dit-staat-in-utrechts-waterplan