Locations for Ship Spotting in Rotterdam and Amsterdam

[Andre Brandao]

I will be in Rotterdam/Amsterdam for 2 days in October and would like to do some ship spotting while there (I plan to rent a car to reach the best photo locations).

Is there any internet guide (maybe Google Maps) to know the best locations for ship spotting in these areas?

Any help appreciated.

[Pieter_Inpijn]

Rotterdam-area: drive to Rozenburg, which is a village along the New Waterway opposite to Maassluis. Drive now west as far as possible, you will end on a large dam opposite Hoek van Holland and Europoort bulk terminal. From her you see all ships to/from Rotterdam and all ships to/from Europoort.

Amsterdam: best place is to drive to IJmuiden (Ymuiden) or Velsen along the North Sea Canal, south side shore. Harbours in Amsterdam fenced off, nothing to see. Please note that shipping in Amsterdam is very much less than Rotterdam & Europoort.

[Dave van Spronsen]

Maye this helps
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=8200&forum=6

Best place Rotterdam go to the Maasvlakte you can see everything,containerships,bulkers and all other,

Regards,

Dave

[Fred Vloo]

You've got mail ;-)

[Andre Brandao]

Tks for all your help. I now have everything what I need.

[Pieter_Inpijn]

But at Maasvlakte you need a big telelens and you are standing on a low position: ships pass like at the horizon. I myself find that a disadvantage for good pic's. The big containersvessels and tanker for Europoort pass close by but all other vessels (many smaller containerfeeders and smaller tankers from/to Rotterdam) pass rather far away..........

[Fred Vloo]

Ergo conclusio: Be sure to have the right equipment for shipspotting.
The entrance is exactly 1000 mtrs wide. They get as close as 300 mtrs and as far as 800 mtrs. With 200mm you can do a lot. 300 to 500mm is desirable.
At the Maasvlakte you can choose between low or high position.
With the correct equipment, the Maasvlakte is still one of the best spotting places.
Have fun
Fred

[H.J. de Winde]

Fred, you seems to know a lot about differant lenses. I have a marvelous place in Breskens as you can see on Clydemaritime or with Piet's but, out going ships are 1,5 miles away from my point. I have a max. 300 mm lens so I always must zoom the rest on my computer.
Of course there are lenses up till 500 mm or more, but I don't want to change lenses so often. What lens can you advice I can use without changing between let's say 50 and 500 mm?

Regards,  Henk

[Ship's Cat]

Henk, an ideal lens would be Sigma's "Bigma" which has a zoom range of 50-500mm. I've not used one myself, but I have heard that it's a decent lens, with good image quality although it's quite big and heavy.