How do I prepare myself for a day of Kayak Maasland?

• Reserve your kayak, canoe or raft in time.
• Think about the weather conditions. Will it be hot? Will it rain?
• Definitely take the following things with you: sunglasses, headwear, sun lotion, old shoes (no sandals!), reserve clothing, raincoat, plenty of water, some soft drinks and food.
• A neck cord for your glasses is also a good idea!
• Don’t take any valuable items with you on the water.
• Clean your waste, together we keep this beautiful nature reserve clean!
• Listen carefully to the route information at the start.
• And last, but not least: enjoy your day.

Attention please! You can only pay in cash. If you are a bigger group, you can pay beforehand by bank transfer. Please contact us about this via email.

Is wearing a life jacket compulsory?

Yes! It is compulsory to put on the life jacket and wear it during the entire sailing trip.

What are possible times and places of departure?

Route for the 2021 season: From Smeermaas to Kotem (Maasmechelen):

• 9 km route
• by kayak, canoe or raft
• start anytime between 9.30am and 2pm
• Reservation required
• Bus transport possible from Kotem (Maasmechelen) for the departure. (9am – 10am – 11am – 12pm – 1pm)

How long does a trip take and what are the distances?

Sailing down the 13 km route takes 3 to 5 hours. A lot depends on the water level, among other things. You can hand in your materials at the end point until 6 pm.

How to pay?

You pay in cash, preferably the exact money. You can’t pay with your card in this nature reserve. We can come to different agreements with companies and schools via email.

Can we picnic on the way?

Absolutely! You can tie up wherever you like. Do remember to take your waste with you!

How does the bus trip back work?

Daily bus transport is available. For the departure from the terminus in Kotem (Maasmechelen) to the departure point in Smeermaas (Lanaken). The buses run at fixed times: +- 9 am – 10 am – 11 am – 12 pm – 1 pm.

• The extra costs for the bus trip are 7 € per person, children up to 12 years old = 4 € per person.
• Small shuttle buses run on less busy days. We will notify you by email or when you log in to the endpoint.
• Bus transportation is an optional service we offer. Those who prefer not to wait do not have to use our shuttle service and can also park their own cars at the start and end point.

On less busy days, we reserve the right to drive small vans and change the departure times.

Is the Meuse a safe river?

The Meuse is a rain-fed river. That means that the water level can rise or fall very fast.

1. On the water, there are always risks. You can minimise those by always wearing your life jacket.
2. Listen carefully to the safety instructions at the start of the route.
3. Don’t take unnecessary risks on the water. For example: don’t use alcohol, don’t just jump into the water.

Sail safely! Water recreation with small boats moved by muscle power like canoeing, kayaking, rafting… on the Meuse between Lanaken/Borgharen and Kinrooi/Stevensweert is not always easy. The Meuse is a rain-fed river and its water level can change very strongly and fast. The intensity of the current also varies in different places and depends on the (varying) weather conditions. Therefore, each canoeist should take into account the changeable character of the Meuse. Don’t let it surprise you. Sail safely and anticipate unexpected situations.

What to do in case of an emergency, where do I stop, who do I call?

• Stop at the Belgian bank (left bank) in case of an emergency. Here, we can easily reach you.
• Call us: +32 89 71 73 90.

Pricing

The weather forecast