Sailing on the Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea is a varied and adventurous sailing area, in which the  Catharina van Mijdrecht really comes into her own with a draught of only 90 cm. The sandbanks, currents and neap tides are no obstacle to reaching our destination. Unlike the IJsselmeer however, we do have to take the tides into account when sailing on the Wadden Sea. We can only reach the next island within a certain timeframe, or we will be stranded or stopped by the returning currents. Sometimes we have to take a chance here, or accept that the trip does not always go as planned. We can also quietly wait for the next high tide on a sandbank. This is an experience in itself; you can walk around the ship and look for shellfish, and when the water comes back we sail on, over where you were standing just a while ago.

Former Zuiderzee
This northern part of the former Zuiderzee has largely retained its original character after the closure of the IJsselmeer. The appearance of the Wadden Sea still changes with the tide. The constant ebb and flood cause a large part of the Wadden Sea to go dry and be submerged twice a day. Our Dutch flat-bottomed ships are ideally suited for this sailing area, because despite the often shallow water, it is still possible to sail them. The Wadden Sea area is also of great ecological value. It is the nursery for many kinds of North Sea fish, the habitat of seals and harbour porpoises, and an important foraging area for millions of migratory birds. It has therefore been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009.

Geography
The Wadden Sea stretches from Den Helder in Noord-Holland to Esbjerg in Denmark, and covers an area of approximately 10,000 km². Depths vary considerably; there are deep tidal channels between the islands, some as deep as 30 metres. Just next to them, however, can be a sandbar that is barely under water even at high tide. On the one hand the waves slow down on the sandbanks, but on the other hand a strong wind paired with the right current can whip them up considerably. Sailing on the Wadden Sea can therefore be varied and adventurous.

Islands
The crown on the Wadden Sea are the islands, each with its own unique character and possibilities. Reaching a Wadden island is an event in itself, but it certainly pays to take the time to explore them further, preferably by bike. The islands have something for everyone: beautiful long beaches for sun and sea worshippers, endless pristine dunes and forests for hiking and nature enthusiasts. And in the summer season, an exuberant nightlife well into the early hours, and nice villages and towns to look around and shop in.

Ports
On the Dutch Wadden Sea we find the following ports and islands (clockwise from Den Oever): Den Oever, Den Helder, Oudeschild (Texel), Cocksdorp (Texel), Oost Vlieland, West-Terschelling, Nes (Ameland), Schiermonnikoog, Rottumeroog, Delfzijl, Eemshaven, Noordpolderzijl, Lauwersoog, Holwerd, Harlingen and Kornwerderzand.