Belgium: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
20 harbours · 13 bridges and locks
Belgium: 20 harbours, 13 bridges and locks, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
EU memberSchengen AreaEU customs unionCurrency: Euro
Clearing in: No clearance within the Schengen area. Coming from the United Kingdom: border control in a port with a border crossing point (Zeebrugge, Oostende, Nieuwpoort) and customs declaration.
Documents: Licence according to your home country's rules, SRC for the radio, boat papers and insurance.
Fees: Harbour dues per night in the marinas of Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge and Zeebrugge.
Fairway: Short coast without natural harbours: the entrances lie between breakwaters and are difficult in strong onshore winds against the tide. Dense commercial traffic off Zeebrugge and on the Scheldt to Antwerp, with mandatory VHF reporting. Offshore wind farms must not be entered.
Inland waters: On Flemish waterways, a pleasure craft over 6 m or faster than 20 km/h needs the Waterwegenvergunning, for which a fee is charged (online via VisuRIS, also by the day); in Wallonia a navigation permit from the waterway authority. Proof of competence (Stuurbrevet) for boats of 15 m or more or faster than 20 km/h; equivalent foreign licences are recognised. Since 1 July 2026, pleasure craft on the waterways of De Vlaamse Waterweg announce every lock and movable bridge in advance via AIS and VHF or the free Flanders Boating app; without notice, operation may be refused (according to the specialist press).
Nature: Vlaamse Banken marine protected area off the coast; the Zwin is a nature reserve.
Emergency: 112; MRCC Oostende, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Sources: Agentschap Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust, FOD Mobiliteit, shipping, De Vlaamse Waterweg: permits, Mobilit: Waterwegenvergunning (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Belgian coast
- Brugse Zeil- en Yachtclub
- Jachthaven Blankenberge
- Mercator Marina Dok 2
- Novus Portus
- Oude Jachthaven
- Royal Belgium Sailing Club
- Royal Belgium Sailing club
- Royal North Sea Yacht Club
- Royal Yacht Club Oostende
Scheldt, Ghent and Antwerp
Bridges and locks
Locks
Movable bridges
- Brug Sas van Gent (NL, Kanal Gent-Terneuzen)
- Brücke bei yachtclub Volante
- Sas van Gent, voetbrug
- Scheldebrücken Temse-Bornem (bewegliche Straßen- und Bahnbrücke)
- Spoorbrug Boom
- Zelzatebrug (Kanal Gent-Terneuzen)
Fixed bridges (2)
Frequently asked questions
Belgium: Do I need to clear in?
No clearance within the Schengen area. Coming from the United Kingdom: border control in a port with a border crossing point (Zeebrugge, Oostende, Nieuwpoort) and customs declaration.
Belgium: Which documents do I need on board?
Licence according to your home country's rules, SRC for the radio, boat papers and insurance.
Belgium: What fees apply?
Harbour dues per night in the marinas of Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge and Zeebrugge.
Belgium: What is the emergency number at sea?
112; MRCC Oostende, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Belgium: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 20 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning. Plus 13 bridges and locks with opening times and clearances.