Den Bosch

A trip on the river Dommel from St. Michielsgestel to Den Bosch and back 16.2 km. Usually there is very little current  on the river (2 km/h or less), but at rainy periods there can be a lot more current. So plan your trip when there has not been much rainfall. On the Dommel you really can enjoy the quietness and the nature as at most places there is no road nearby the river.

Entering the canals of the inner city is prohibited, and not without danger. From late April till the end of October you can see the canals by taking a tour on a sight-seeing boat. Almost half of the canals are underground, they are narrow and they are very very dark. 

To the starting point St. Michielsgestel

Exit highway A2 at exit 22 St.Michielsgestel. Head south on the N617. At the traffic-lights turn right into St. Michielsgestel on the Hoogstraat. At a T-junction you turn left on the Nieuwstraat. The first street on your right is the Willem Alexanderplein. There is a small parking place and the river is 50 meters away. At normal water level the sides are rather low so it is easy to get into the kayak here. In case of high water, there is a floating pier a little further on. Rowing boats are moored here, but you can use the far end to put the kayak into the water.

To Den Bosch

From St. Michielsgestel you can reach the weir at Den Bosch in an hour. After 2.6 km the Esschestroom joins the Dommel near the village Halder. After km 5.0 just after the bridge of highway A2 there is a kayak-pier on your right at a pumping station. There is no access to the water after the pumping station however. At km 6.9 you come at a self service foot-ferry on the edge of Den Bosch. To the left is a weir with a kayak-gutter. I would advise not to use it. It's only for the brave who are used to do stunts with playboats. There is a low side where you can go out. On the other side of the weir is a kayak pier. 

From the foot-ferry you can go straigt on passing the old walls of the city center. At km 8.1 you come at the locks. As often on locks, there is a sign saying "no access". But somehow I have a feeling this is meant for entering the narrow canals of the city center. Any way, I drove (and paddled) a long way to get this far so the sign was not going to stop me. It was well before the sightseeing boat season, so there would be no other boats on the water. I took the necessary precautions: 2 waterproof flashlights attached to the kayak, life-jacket and a whistle. I passed the locks and I went straight on on the Groote Stroom. After a short distance there were construction works, so I had to turn back. Then I went into the narrow canal to the left. Most of the canals are underground so after a few long bridges I entered complete darkness. I figured if I would keep turning left I would end up somewhere, and hopefully the place where I came in. But this was not the case. After some time I noticed that I passed a place where I had been before. When there was an opportunity I turned back and when I returned into a very dark tunnel I noticed I had missed a side canal (later I found out this canal is named Hellegat, meaning gate to hell). So I should have turned right in stead of left. When I had figured this out it was easy to find my way out. 

It was a very special experience. You really enter the dungeons of the city. There are no rats any more, and the water is clean. Very special is the complete silence. If you paddle very quietly at some places you can hear the footsteps of people walking across a lid above you.

On the river Dommel approaching Den Bosch

Weir in the Dommel at Den Bosch with a gutter for kayaks. 

Portage at the weir. In the background the self-service foot-ferry across the Dommel.

The Groote Stroom, part of the Binnendieze in the center of Den Bosch

The Groote Stroom

The Verwersstroom, part of the Binnendieze