Ep 395 | Trying to REACH the NETHERLANDS… But the Weather Has OTHER IDEAS
In this episode, we finally make our move north from Nieuwpoort, Belgium aiming for the start of the Standing Mast Route in the Netherlands. The plan was simple enough: take advantage of a rare winter weather window, ride the favourable tide, and push on toward Holland… or, if the North Sea had other ideas, tuck into one of the safe harbours along the Belgian coast.
As it turned out, the weather won this round.
With snow, storms, shifting channels, and a tight tidal gate, we diverted into Blankenberge — a stop we’d already marked as a smart fallback. That “quick stop” turned into nearly a week of exploring the town, wandering the seafront, riding the world’s longest tram line, and settling into marina life in the middle of winter.
Magnus also takes you through his full passage‑planning system for this leg: tides, currents, weather windows, fallback ports, VHF channels, lock timings, and all the decision points that go into moving a boat safely up this wild stretch of coast. If you’re planning to sail Belgium or head toward the Standing Mast Route yourself, this episode gives you a real look at what it takes.
Hope you enjoy the (short) journey north — even if we didn’t get quite as far as planned.
Until next time,
Wendy & Magnus
---
### **HYPE US!**
If you’d like to give our channel a boost, tap the **HYPE** button. It’s a brand‑new YouTube feature that helps small creators like us rise above the noise. Every tap genuinely helps our little community grow.
---
### **VALKRY BBQ, SMOKER, ROTISSERIE**
If you’d like your own VALKRY BBQ, you can use our link below. It won’t cost you anything extra, but it helps support our channel.
[https://www.valkry.com/?sca_ref=10252671.3CPHxDmU43n4](https://www.valkry.com/?sca_ref=10252671.3CPHxDmU43n4)
### **LibertyKite, Australia**
More info: [www.navtrak.com.au](http://www.navtrak.com.au)
### **Wendy Eriksson’s Paintings**
Art Lovers Australia: [https://artloversaustralia.com.au/artist/wendy-eriksson](https://artloversaustralia.com.au/artist/wendy-eriksson)
Bluethumb: [https://bluethumb.com.au/artworks/popular/wendy-eriksson](https://bluethumb.com.au/artworks/popular/wendy-eriksson)
Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/StudioWhitsunday/](https://www.facebook.com/StudioWhitsunday/)
### **Where’s Nutshell now?**
See our real‑time location: [https://www.patreon.com/lifeinanutshell](https://www.patreon.com/lifeinanutshell)
Support us from just $1/month.
### **Follow & Support**
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/nutshellliving](http://www.facebook.com/nutshellliving)
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/nutshellliving/](https://www.instagram.com/nutshellliving/)
Twitter: [https://twitter.com/Nutshellliving](https://twitter.com/Nutshellliving)
Buy us a beer: paypalme/lifeinanutshell.com
### **Music**
Epidemic Sound
Still a Dreamer
Anywhere
---
#sailing #sailingvlog #boatlife #lifeinanutshell #sailingeurope #belgiumcoast #nieuwpoort #blankenberge #northsea #standingmastroute #cruisinglife #travelvlog
Life in a Nutshell
From the Kimberley wilds to the Dutch canals, Magnus and Wendy of Life in a Nutshell define the technical grit of slow, aesthetic offshore exploration.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Support Life in a Nutshell
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Life in a Nutshell invests in crafting each and every video or voyage. Their passion for delivering exceptional ocean content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos here and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore the gear, sponsorships, and boat partnerships highlighted in the "Ep 395 | Trying to REACH the NETHERLANDS… But the Weather Has OTHER IDEAS" video description, or directly on YouTube. By engaging with these offerings or purchasing services and items, you directly support Life in a Nutshell, their collaborators, and the brands they're associated with.
To ensure you never miss an offshore update, consider visiting their official YouTube Channel to subscribe, like, and join their community directly.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Life in a Nutshell or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
In this episode, we finally make our move north from Nieuwpoort, Belgium aiming for the start of the Standing Mast Route in the Netherlands. The plan was simple enough: take advantage of a rare winter weather window, ride the favourable tide, and push on toward Holland… or, if the North Sea had other ideas, tuck into one of the safe harbours along the Belgian coast.
As it turned out, the weather won this round.
With snow, storms, shifting channels, and a tight tidal gate, we diverted into Blankenberge — a stop we’d already marked as a smart fallback. That “quick stop” turned into nearly a week of exploring the town, wandering the seafront, riding the world’s longest tram line, and settling into marina life in the middle of winter.
Magnus also takes you through his full passage‑planning system for this leg: tides, currents, weather windows, fallback ports, VHF channels, lock timings, and all the decision points that go into moving a boat safely up this wild stretch of coast. If you’re planning to sail Belgium or head toward the Standing Mast Route yourself, this episode gives you a real look at what it takes.
Hope you enjoy the (short) journey north — even if we didn’t get quite as far as planned.
Until next time,
Wendy & Magnus
—
### **HYPE US!**
If you’d like to give our channel a boost, tap the **HYPE** button. It’s a brand‑new YouTube feature that helps small creators like us rise above the noise. Every tap genuinely helps our little community grow.
—
### **VALKRY BBQ, SMOKER, ROTISSERIE**
If you’d like your own VALKRY BBQ, you can use our link below. It won’t cost you anything extra, but it helps support our channel.
[https://www.valkry.com/?sca_ref=10252671.3CPHxDmU43n4](https://www.valkry.com/?sca_ref=10252671.3CPHxDmU43n4)
### **LibertyKite, Australia**
More info: [www.navtrak.com.au](http://www.navtrak.com.au)
### **Wendy Eriksson’s Paintings**
Art Lovers Australia: [https://artloversaustralia.com.au/artist/wendy-eriksson](https://artloversaustralia.com.au/artist/wendy-eriksson)
Bluethumb: [https://bluethumb.com.au/artworks/popular/wendy-eriksson](https://bluethumb.com.au/artworks/popular/wendy-eriksson)
Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/StudioWhitsunday/](https://www.facebook.com/StudioWhitsunday/)
### **Where’s Nutshell now?**
See our real‑time location: [https://www.patreon.com/lifeinanutshell](https://www.patreon.com/lifeinanutshell)
Support us from just $1/month.
### **Follow & Support**
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/nutshellliving](http://www.facebook.com/nutshellliving)
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/nutshellliving/](https://www.instagram.com/nutshellliving/)
Twitter: [https://twitter.com/Nutshellliving](https://twitter.com/Nutshellliving)
Buy us a beer: paypalme/lifeinanutshell.com
### **Music**
Epidemic Sound
Still a Dreamer
Anywhere
—
#sailing #sailingvlog #boatlife #lifeinanutshell #sailingeurope #belgiumcoast #nieuwpoort #blankenberge #northsea #standingmastroute #cruisinglife #travelvlog
Latest Episodes from Life in a Nutshell
Explore the most recent voyages. Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update!
Ep 399 | DODGY BEER, REVIEW and the OLDEST city in Holland, European Vacation
We kick off this episode in the middle of a freezing Dutch week with snow on the decks and fog on the canals. Magnus tries another beer and gives a very honest review of a triple that comes with a 900‑year heritage. From stainless steel aromas to coriander syrup surprises, it’s a tasting that doesn’...
Ep 398 | DODGING SHIPS and Our First Belgian Beer Review, European Vacation
Sailing through South Holland turns into a full‑blown game of dodging ships, timing bridge openings, and navigating closures that stop us in our tracks. After threading our way through one of Europe’s busiest river intersections, we finally hit a dead end: a bridge closed indefinitely. So… back we g...
Live Stream Gota Canal Day 6 Sweden
Travel with us as we make our way along the Gota Canal in Sweden. The GÖTA CANAL is a historic 190 km waterway in southern Sweden. Built in the early 1800s, it features 58 locks and connects the Baltic Sea to Lake Vänern. It operates as an iconic leisure route, allowing travelers to cruise or bike ...
Live Stream Gota Canal Day 6 Sweden
Travel with us as we make our way along the Gota Canal in Sweden. The GÖTA CANAL is a historic 190 km waterway in southern Sweden. Built in the early 1800s, it features 58 locks and connects the Baltic Sea to Lake Vänern. It operates as an iconic leisure route, allowing travelers to cruise or bike ...
Live Stream Göta Canal – Leg 5 | Töreboda to Jonsboda, Sweden
Travel with us as we make our way along the Gota Canal in Sweden. Töreboda to Jonsboda. The GÖTA CANAL is a historic 190 km waterway in southern Sweden. Built in the early 1800s, it features 58 locks and connects the Baltic Sea to Lake Vänern. It operates as an iconic leisure route, allowing travel...