Crown Blue Line have two bases in Holland.The principal base is in the north at Sneek. Friesland is the province in the North of Holland and Sneek is centrally placed as an ideal base from which to explore the region. 

There are few or no locks but plenty of lift bridges with a bridge keeper to let you through. This is the land of windmills, sails, sheep and cows, beautiful brick built farmhouses. 

This is also the land of the bicycle, you will see them everywhere along the dykes and towpath as you wend your way from village to village. 

There is also a base in the centre of Holland, 30kms from Amsterdam at Hardewijk (Strand Horst Marina). This is primarily intended as a start or finish base for one way trips to or from Sneek. However there will be more and more out and back cruises available from here over the coming years.

One week out and back cruises : 

Sneek - Grouw - Lemmer and back.
Depending on the route you choose :
80 and 200 km, no locks, 10 and 20 hr round trip cruising time

Stand Horst - Amsterdam - Utrecht - Elburg and back.
180 km, 4 locks, 33 hr round trip cruising time

One week, one way cruise : 

Sneek - Loosdrecht - Strand Horst or vice-versa.
Depending on the route you choose : 
160 and 200 km, 4 and 6 locks, 20 and 25 hr one way cruising time

As we said above, you can go in any direction from Sneek. In typical week you can cover 200 kms of waterways at your own pace. The canals enter into the heart of the towns and villages and you can overnight for reasonable rates in these town harbours. You may prefer a fishing village on the Ijsselmeer or a quiet rural stop in the middle of nowhere. Restaurants are everywhere and fine food is available in most towns.