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
An Adventurer and an Artist decide to leave the tropical islands of North Queensland, Australia behind to explore the world slowly. Join our adventures.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Support Life in a Nutshell
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Life in a Nutshell and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos 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 any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the "Ep 395 | Trying to REACH the NETHERLANDS… But the Weather Has OTHER IDEAS" video description, or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Life in a Nutshell but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
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
Life in a Nutshell Lastest Videos
Live Stream Trollhatte Canal Day2 Sweden
Travel with us as we make our way along the Trollatte Canal in Sweden. The Trollhätte Canal is an 82 km Swedish waterway linking the Göta River to Lake Vänern, opened in 1800 and declared a national monument in 2004. Together with the Göta Canal, it f...
Live Stream Trollhatte Canal Day2 Sweden
Travel with us as we make our way along the Trollhatte Canal in Sweden. The Trollhätte Canal is an 82 km Swedish waterway linking the Göta River to Lake Vänern, opened in 1800 and declared a national monument in 2004. Together with the Göta Canal, it ...
Live fromTrollhatte Canal Day 1. Sweden
Travel with us as we make our way along the Trollhatte Canal in Sweden. The Trollhätte Canal is an 82 km Swedish waterway linking the Göta River to Lake Vänern, opened in 1800 and declared a national monument in 2004. Together with the Göta Canal, it ...
Ep 396 | Our FIRST LIFTING Bridge, European Vacation
We finally leave Blankenberg after staying for quite a while waiting for a good weather window to head north. The North Sea isn’t that kind and we are unable to sail, so we motor north. We make our way to the southern end of the Standing Mast Route and ...
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 t...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.