Sailing a boat without a boating license in the Netherlands

On a beautiful and warm summer day it is wonderful to go sailing. Especially if you have a (rubber) boat yourself, the step into the water is easy. Would you like to go sailing, but you don’t have a boating license? Even then, in some cases you can simply go on the water. In this article we explain what rules there are for sailing a boat without a boating license.

Rules for boats without a license

Are you going sailing with friends or family? Then it is useful to know when you need a boating license and when you do not. Sometimes you can go on the water without a boating license. Of course, it is always useful to know the rules on the water, so that you always sail safely on the water.

Which boat can you sail without a boating license?

You can sail on some boats without a boating license. Do you have a boat with a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour and a length of maximum 15 meters? Then you don’t need a boating license. If your boat exceeds one of these guidelines, you do need a boating license.

Maximum horsepower without a boating license

Many people assume that you need a boating license for a certain amount of horsepower. But did you know that this is not the case at all? Sailing without a boating license does not depend on the amount of horsepower of the boat, but on the size and speed of the boat.

Where to sail without a boating license?

You are not allowed to sail at all places without a boating license. There are a number of places for which you must at least have a Small Boating License, regardless of the speed or size of your boat. A Small Boating License II is required to enter seaports. A Small Boating License II is also required for sailing on larger inland waterways in the Netherlands, such as the Western Scheldt, the Oosterschelde, the IJsselmeer, the Markermeer, the Wadden Sea and the Eems and Dollard.

Furthermore, you can in principle sail anywhere in the Netherlands without a boating license. You do not need a boating license on the rivers, canals or lakes of the Netherlands. No boating license is required for sailing on the North Sea.

At what age can you sail without a boating license?

There is no age restriction on sailing a boat without a motor, such as a sailboat, rowing boat, pedal boat or canoe up to 7 meters. Would you like to drive a motorboat? From the age of 12 you can sail an open motor boat of a maximum of 7 meters. You can sail a sailing boat from 7 to 15 meters without a license from the age of 16. You can also sail a pleasure craft or motor boat up to 15 meters without a boating license. You must be at least 18 years old for this.

How fast can a boat go without a license?

Do you sail a boat without a boating license? Then there are not only restrictions on age, but also on the speed of the boat. You may not sail faster than 13 kilometers per hour on a motor boat up to 7 meters. If your sailboat is 7 to 15 meters long, you may not sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour. Do you sail a pleasure boat or motorboat up to 15 meters? Then you are not allowed to sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour.

When is a boating license not required?

In short, you do not need a boating license if:

• Your sloop, sailing or motor boat is no longer than 15 meters;
• Your boat does not sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour.

When is a boating license required?

Having a boating license is mandatory when:

• Your sloop, sailing or motor boat is longer than 15 meters;
• Your boat can sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour;
• You enter seaports;
• You sail on larger inland waterways in the Netherlands, such as the Westerschelde, the Oosterschelde, the IJsselmeer, the Markermeer, the Wadden Sea and the Eems and Dollard;
• A ship is used commercially.

The minimum age to drive a boat for which a boating license is required is 18 years.

Buy an outboard motor

Do you want to know what kind of outboard motor you can buy without needing a boating license? Then take a look at our outboard motors up to 6 hp. Without a boating license you are not allowed to sail faster than 20 kilometers per hour, so an outboard motor with a maximum power of 4 hp is best to buy. We have 4 hp outboard motors from the brands Tohatsu, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and Mercury.