Netherlands - Schagen

Yacht harbours do have charm and character, or is it the people you find messing around boats, or more to the point the motorhome owners who use these designated motorhome stops? They, the boaters and the motorhomers, also seem to get on well with each other. The town of Schagen in the province of Noord Holland, with its adjacent yacht harbour, has been a joy to visit.
We arrived Friday 13 July and initially parked at a newly designated area next to the yacht harbour. The harbour master duly came over to collect the fee and upon the resulting conversation we decided to relocate to within the confines of the harbour itself, next to other 'vans already there. Good views, nice neighbours and pleasant surroundings guarantees a memorable stay.

Schagen yacht harbour

Fifi and neighbours

Late night view

The harbour master's building houses the ablution block with showers, toilets, dish washing and laundry area, pamphlets and local info with all other necessary facilities for boaters and motorhomers.
Now of course stopping over at a working small craft harbour brings a continuous passing parade of boats and people. You also have to put up with general maintenance as is needed within the harbour, such as this cleaning out of holding tanks. Of course these things happen on Saturdays next to where you're parked ....

Cleaning out tanks

I subsequently went for a ride on the bicycle to the adjacent town of Schagen and found a bustling inner town with shoppers, street cafes, boules playing around the church, all in warm sunshine. The rain of the past week had hopefully moved on. I sourced a fishmonger and we had fresh cod for supper washed down with Gewurtztraminer from Alsace. There was also a good butcher/deli in town which resulted in lamb chops, smoked sausage and pate.

Playing boules in the centre of town

Further exploring brought me to this relic of World War 2, a German blockhouse built to house a power generator. It was never commissioned and the information board says it is the last relic of the war in Schagen. It was probably built as part of the elaborate German 'Atlantic Wall' defences, in the hope of withstanding the Allied advance to free occupied Noord Holland, keeping the German garrison supplied with power.

German fortification from WW2