Damse Vaart is a canal in West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium. Species include Carp, Bream, Roach, Tench, Pike, Perch, with carp the main target for travelling anglers.
Night fishing is permitted at Damse Vaart. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Historic canal from Bruges to the Dutch border near Sluis. Tree-lined banks, scenic — popular carp venue.. Regarding boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation..
At just 65 miles from Calais, Damse Vaart is one of the closest quality fishing venues to the UK. Flanders — a flat, canal-rich landscape within easy reach of the Channel Tunnel — makes an excellent short-break destination.
Night fishing is permitted at Damse Vaart. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Historic canal from Bruges to the Dutch border near Sluis. Tree-lined banks, scenic — popular carp venue.
Boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation.
Permits required: Vlaams visverlof (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year from Natuur en Bos) required for all Flemish public waterways. Buy online at natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be or at the post office. Valid 1 Jan–31 Dec. Klein visverlof (~€6/year) for daytime only, 1 rod, no lures. Some waters require additional local fishing club membership card.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (Flemish fishing permit, groot visverlof), available from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules — no separate night permit is required in Flanders.
Local authority: Agentschap Natuur en Bos (ANB) · www.visverlof.be
Damse Vaart holds carp, bream, roach, tench, pike, perch. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
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All year for most species on public waterways. Ecologically valuable waters: NO fishing 16 April–31 May (spawning). From 1 March–15 April in ecologically valuable waters: no bait fish or lures >2cm. Pike: closed 1 March–last Saturday April. Zander/Perch: closed 1 April–last Saturday April. Mandatory no-kill: Eel/Paling (full ban — immediate release). Waterlopen Zwalm and IJse: full mandatory no-kill all year, no bait fish.
West Flanders is home to a number of public fishing venues accessible with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in West Flanders and across Flanders.