Vaarwijzers

Vaarwijzers is a Dutch term for navigational guides and aids used by mariners to navigate inland and coastal waterways. The plural form refers to both physical markers deployed on the water and to printed or digital guides that describe routes, rules, and procedures. The word derives from vaar (to sail) and wijzer (guide or pointer).

On-water vaarwijzers include signs, beacons, buoys, and lights placed along canals, rivers, harbours, and approaches to locks and bridges. They indicate safe channels, left-right traffic separation, speed limits, depth or draft restrictions, and temporary restrictions due to works. These markers are maintained by national or regional water authorities and are intended to be legible in daylight and at night.

Printed vaarwijzers encompass cruising guides and sailing directions that describe navigation routes, priority rules, lock and bridge schedules, port entry procedures, and safety advisories. Digital vaarwijzers appear as apps and electronic navigational charts that provide real-time or regularly updated information and often integrate with GPS and online notices to mariners.

Vaarwijzers serve recreational boaters, commercial traffic, and training programs. They are part of the broader system of navigational aids and conform to general principles of safe navigation, such as chart literacy and situational awareness. Updates are issued for dredging, temporary closures, or changes in regulations, ensuring users have current guidance.