Mooring permit

The City of Leeuwarden has designated around 200 places where vessels are allowed to moor for longer periods of time. They are listed in the Designation Order for Moorings (‘Aanwijzingsbesluit ligplaatsen’). Usually there is not a mooring available for everyone who wants one. This is why the local authority has a waiting list for the City of Leeuwarden.

Joining the waiting list

You can only join the waiting list if you have a vessel. Sign up online. You will need DigiD.

Are you unwilling or unable to register online?

Download the Registration form for joining the waiting list (mooring vessel) (PDF, 78.9 KB) and fill in. Send the form to the City of Leeuwarden. You can also hand it in at the Town Hall.

We will let you know how high you are on the waiting list.

We will let you know as soon a mooring becomes available.

Applying for a mooring permit

This is only possible if you own a vessel, or if you can prove that you will soon become a vessel owner. Contact the harbour master on 058-2338766. The harbour master will check whether your boat is suitable for a berth in Leeuwarden. You can register online if the harbour master decides that your vessel is suitable. You will need DigiD.

Your vessel must meet the following requirements:

• It must be a historical houseboat or a museum houseboat.
  • Historic houseboats are former (occupied) commercial cargo vessels, tugs and fishing vessels, belonging to inland and maritime navigation. The vessel must have a historic character and an authentic hull. It is now used exclusively as a permanent home. It must also be possible for the vessel to sail independently.
  • Museum houseboats are inland navigation vessels built before 1940 that have had significant cultural-historical significance for the Netherlands. The vessel should look (almost) as it did before 1940, when the skipper sailed it for his profession.
  • Museum houseboats can sometimes be given a berth in the Museumhaven.
• The vessel must not have a length exceeding 30 metres. There are some exceptions:
  • You have a vessel with Frisian dimensions (maximum 31.5 metres).
  • Or you have a former seagoing vessel with a maximum length 35 metres.
  • In the Museumhaven, a vessel may be larger, if it is of original historical dimensions.
• The vessel must be well maintained. The building aesthetics committee Hûs en Hiem will check your registration. They will check whether your vessel is well-maintained and complies with the rules in the ‘Policy Document Moorings’ (Welstandsnota ligplaatsen). They will consider the following points:
  • Does your vessel need a minor service or minor renovation? If so, include a maintenance plan with a time schedule with your application. The building aesthetics committee will check whether the maintenance plan is aligned to the time schedule. If so, your vessel will be placed on the waiting list.
  • Does your vessel need a lot of maintenance or a major refit? If so, send a sketch plan (in the case of a refit), maintenance plan and time schedule with your application. In this case, your vessel will not be added to the waiting list yet. However, you can obtain an approval from the building standards committee for your plan. You can re-register your vessel once you have completed the maintenance or refit as planned.
  • Has the vessel been approved? You will be placed on the waiting list.

If a mooring becomes available

we will send you a reply form offering a mooring for a manoeuvrable vessel. Do you want to accept this offer? Complete the form and return it to us. That constitutes your application for a mooring. Your vessel will be assessed when we receive your application.

Relocating with a manoeuvrable vessel.

Do you have a mooring with a manoeuvrable vessel in Leeuwarden? And do you want to move to a different location? Register online to join the waiting list. You will need DigiD. Specify where you want to move to in your application.

Are you unwilling or unable to register online?

Download the Registration form for joining the waiting list (mooring) (PDF, 84.95 KB) and fill in. Send the form to the City of Leeuwarden. You can also hand it in at the Town Hall.

You have priority for a new mooring

Because you already have a mooring in Leeuwarden.

Do you want to renovate your ark or place a new one? Apply for an environment and planning permit via the Environment Desk. You may only place a houseboat if the relevant place is marked ‘specific form of water – houseboat mooring’.

Meeting the building aesthetics criteria for houseboats

You will find these requirements at the bottom of this page under ‘Laws and Regulations’.

The City of Leeuwarden has a number of moorings for pleasure craft that you can rent throughout the year.

Mooring locations

• Grou:
  • J.W. Visserwei / cycle bridge
  • Oedsmawei
  • Stationswei
  • De Baai
• Wergea
  • Foudering
• Leeuwarden
  • De Skâns
  • Havenkom Wiarda

Applying for a mooring for a pleasure craft

Apply for the mooring online. You will need DigiD.

Are you unwilling or unable to apply online?

Download Application form for renting a pleasure craft mooring (PDF, 56.7 KB) and fill in. Send the form to the City of Leeuwarden. You can also hand it in at the Town Hall.

For a maximum of six months

You may want to moor your vessel somewhere for an event, for example. In that case, apply for a temporary mooring permit. The permit is not intended for permanent occupancy. It is valid for a maximum of six months. It is not necessary to request an assessment by the building aesthetics committee Hûs en Hiem.

Mooring for longer than six months

Do you want to more your boat for more than six months? But temporarily? In that case, apply for a temporary mooring permit. Building aesthetics committee Hûs en Hiem will check your registration. They will check whether your vessel is well-maintained and complies with the rules in the ‘Policy Document Moorings’ (Welstandsnota ligplaatsen).

Applying for a temporary mooring permit

Apply for the permit online. You will need DigiD.

Are you unwilling or unable to apply online?

Download Applying for a mooring permit (PDF, 77.95 KB) and fill in. Send the form to the City of Leeuwarden. You can also hand it in at the Town Hall.

• Inclusion on the waiting lists costs € 263.69.
• A mooring permit costs € 561.64.
• A temporary mooring permit costs € 280.84.

The following laws and regulations can be found on the website Overheid.nl (national):

• Regulation governing the waiting list for arks
• The environmental plan relevant to the location in question

The following laws can be found on the website Overheid.nl (local):

• General Municipal Bylaw
• Designation order for moorings
• Building aesthetics policy document for moorings