Filter by night fishing, species, size and more. Full rules and access notes for every public venue.
Situated in Regio MidWest, Vaartplas is a public public lake accessible to anglers with a valid VISpas. Species include Carp, Zander, Pike, Perch, Bream, with carp present and subject to mandatory catch-and-release under Dutch rules.
Note: night fishing is forbidden at Vaartplas, which is an exception to standard VISpas rules. Regarding boats: Boats and belly boats permitted. Belly boats forbidden in main navigation channel (vaargeul) of major transport waterways (e.g. Waal). Float tubes treated as small craft — stay out of commercial shipping lanes..
Vaartplas is 189 miles from Calais, making it a realistic destination for a long weekend carp trip from the UK.
Night fishing is not permitted at Vaartplas. This is an exception to standard VISpas rules — check VISplanner for details.
Boats: Boats are permitted at Vaartplas. Boats and belly boats permitted. Belly boats forbidden in main navigation channel (vaargeul) of major transport waterways (e.g. Waal). Float tubes treated as small craft — stay out of commercial shipping lanes.
Permits required: VISpas (~€40/year) required. NachtVIStoestemming (€17.50) required for night fishing. Derde Hengeltoestemming (€32.50) for 3rd rod where permitted. Check VISplanner app (visplanner.nl) for current water-specific rules.
VISpas (~€40/year) — required to fish most public waters in the Netherlands. Available online at sportvisserijnederland.nl.
Always verify rules on VISplanner.nl before your session — rules can vary by specific water.
Vaartplas holds carp, zander, pike, perch, bream. Note: carp are mandatory catch-and-release on Dutch public waters — they must be returned alive.
Join to unlock full rules, access notes and venue details for Vaartplas and all Netherlands venues.
Vaartplas holds carp among other species (carp, zander, pike, perch, bream). The carp fishing at Vaartplas draws both local and visiting anglers. Obtain the correct venue permit before your session.
All year for most species. Closed season: Pike 1 March–last Saturday May; Zander & Perch 1 April–last Saturday May; Barbel/Chub/Nase 1 April–31 May. Bait restriction: 1 April–last Saturday May (no dead fish/lures). Mandatory no-kill: Carp, Eel/Paling, Grass Carp.
All anglers fishing Dutch public waters require a VISpas (~€40/year) from Sportvisserij Nederland — buy online at sportvisserijnederland.nl before leaving the UK. For night fishing, an additional NachtVIStoestemming (€17.50/year) is required. Always check VISplanner.nl for current rules on the specific water before your session.
Vaartplas is 189 miles from Calais — reachable via the Hook of Holland ferry or Channel Tunnel in under 3 hours. No booking required — Dutch public waters operate on free access under the VISpas system.
The Netherlands is one of Europe's most accessible fishing destinations for UK anglers. The Stena Line overnight ferry (Harwich–Hook of Holland, ~6.5 hours) drops you directly into the fishing heartland, with most Dutch venues within a 2-hour drive of the port.
A VISpas (Sport Fishing Licence) is required to fish most Dutch waters. Buy online at vispas.nl. Many day-ticket and private lakes (particularly carp venues) require an additional water-specific permit.
The Netherlands is a year-round fishing destination. Carp fishing peaks from May through September, with the shallow polders and large pits producing outstanding sport. Pike and perch are at their best from October through February when water temperatures drop and fish move into predictable areas. Zander fishing on the big waterways (IJsselmeer, Hollands Diep) is excellent throughout autumn and winter. For summer carp sessions, the Dutch clay pits and reservoirs hold fish in the 20–40+ lb range with relatively low angling pressure compared to the UK.
Regio MidWest covers a wide range of public fishing venues accessible under the VISpas system. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in this region.