Regio Groningen Drenthe covers the far north — Groningen province and Drenthe. The region is dominated by its extensive canal network. Night fishing permissions here are among the most permissive in the Netherlands. The Lauwersmeer — a former sea inlet — is one of the most beautiful venues in the north.
All anglers fishing Dutch public waters require a VISpas (~€40/year) from Sportvisserij Nederland. The annual licence covers most public lakes, rivers and canals across the Netherlands. Buy online at sportvisserijnederland.nl before your trip — UK anglers can purchase as a visitor without a Dutch address.
For night fishing, an additional NachtVIStoestemming (€17.50/year) is required on top of the VISpas. Always check VISplanner.nl for current rules on the specific water before fishing at night — some waters have restrictions or are excluded entirely. Always carry both documents while fishing.
Regio Groningen Drenthe covers the northern provinces — a mix of wide navigable canals, drainage channels and the Zuidlaardermeer lake complex. The canals here are typically deep, slow-flowing and productive for Bream, Tench and Carp. The Zuidlaardermeer and surrounding waters offer night fishing with a NachtVIStoestemming. This region is around 5–6 hours from the Channel Tunnel but serves anglers travelling to the Netherlands by ferry from Newcastle or Hull.
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