The Boat and Breakfast Maarssen

The Address
WS ( ws stands for houseboat )
Maarssen The
Netherlands
By car If you have a navigation system, enter Diependaalsedijk 116 in Maarssen. There is a parking lot next to number 116. You can park here and then walk to number 126 and cross the road there.  Walking along the Zandpad you will see the houseboat moored after 200 meters.

Via the A2

On the A2 take the Maarssen exit. You will then arrive at the N230. There you take the second exit Maarssen-Dorp. At the end of the exit turn left at the traffic lights. Turn left at the traffic lights at the T-junction. Go straight on at the roundabout (first exit). At the end of the road at the traffic lights turn left again. (The Avia gas station is on your left.) Now follow the road as it bends to the right. Go straight on at the roundabout (2nd exit). 
The dr. Continue to follow Plesmanlaan. This becomes the Driehoekslaan and after a slight bend it becomes the Diependaalsedijk.
After about 150 meters, next to number 116, there is a parking lot.

Via the A27 

On the A27 take exit 31 ring Utrecht (-Noord.) You will then arrive at the N230. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Karl Marxdreef. Then there are 2 more roundabouts, which you go straight on. Then you arrive at the Zuilense Ring. There you take the second exit towards Maarssen-Dorp. At the end of the exit turn right.  Go straight on at the roundabout (first exit). At the end of the road  at the traffic lights turn left again. (The Avia gas station is on your left.) Now follow the road as it bends to the right. Go straight on at the roundabout (2nd exit). 
The dr. Continue to follow Plesmanlaan. This becomes the Driehoekslaan and after a slight bend it becomes the Diependaalsedijk.
After about 150 meters, next to number 116, there is a parking lot. You can park here and then walk to number 126 and cross the road there.  Walking along the Zandpad you will see the houseboat moored after 200 meters.

By public transport

If you come by train, you can get off at Maarssen station. You are then in Maarssen-Broek. However, the boat and breakfast is located in Maarssen-Dorp. This is not a problem, because the buses run from the station to and from the village. (You can also rent an OV bicycle at the station.)
Take city bus line 36 in the direction of Utrecht-Central. Get off at bus stop Dr. Plesmanlaan. You step near the intersection of the Arienslaan and the Dr. Plesman Avenue. At this intersection, turn left and follow the road for about half a mile. This road begins when Dr. Plesmanlaan (you will see a primary school on your right), and change into Driehoekslaan (you will see the Boekweit bakery on your right) and then into Diependaalsedijk (here you will see a meadow on your left.) You cross at Diependaalsedijk 126, up a hiking trail. This path is sometimes closed with a wooden fence, but the path is always accessible. Walking along the Zandpad you will see the houseboat moored after 200 meters.

River "De Vecht".

In the 1970s, my wife and I moved to Maarssen on the Vecht. We have seen it blossom into the beautiful environment it is today. The boat is located on an old towpath, with a long history. In the past, barges passed here with trade. The (newly placed) roller posts are a reminder of this in several places. There are a number of very beautiful old country houses along the Vecht. An information board has been placed at some of these outdoor areas. It contains an interesting description of the history of that place. It is nice to stop and take the time to read this.
In the summer, the beautiful surroundings attract many boat tourists, and the path is pleasantly busy with walkers all year round. It is also beautifully situated for cyclists. There are several cycling routes that lead you along the most beautiful places along the Vecht.

Maarssen-Amsterdam

If you leave for Amsterdam, you will first pass Breukelen ( Brooklyn New York was named after this small town). A nice village, with a cozy centrally located market square. It is nice to have a drink on a terrace and to walk around the old center. After Breukelen, there are many places worth seeing, one of which is the Mijndense Sluis. Especially when it is very busy with boats, it is a must to take a look there. It is a busy lock, which forms a connection between the Vecht and the Loosdrecht lakes. There is a terrace directly at the lock, where you can have a drink or eat a nice ice cream on a hot summer day.
You can choose to cycle to Amsterdam. The total route from the boat to Amsterdam center is approximately 35 kilometers. Amsterdam is of course worth a visit. If you find it too far, it is a good alternative to get on the train halfway in Breukelen or Abcoude, from where it takes about 20 minutes before you get off at Amsterdam Central.

Loosdrecht

Mentioned above are the Loosdrechtse Plassen. Originally this area consisted of low peat bogs. But due to the peat extraction, water-filled draft holes were created. Due to various circumstances, the drawholes slowly grew into the puddles as we know them today. The Loosdrechtse Plassen consist of several lakes that are separated from each other by dikes and islands. Everyone considers the Eerste to Vijfde Plas to be part of the Loosdrechtse Plassen. Opinions differ about the other lakes.
You can swim and surf well on the Vijfde Plas. It is not allowed to sail fast here. This is allowed on the other lakes and you can water ski, wakeboard, sail or just sail. There are plenty of quiet places where you can anchor for a while and take a nice dip in the water.

Maarssen-Utrecht

The route along the Vecht towards Utrecht is also very worthwhile. Utrecht is less than 10 kilometers from Maarssen. On the way you will pass Oud-Zuilen. A beautiful, old village where Zuylen Castle is located. The castle is a nice attraction, with its park surrounded by a 120 meter long national monumental snake wall. The castle also includes canals with a number of separate national monuments, such as the quay walls, the bridge, the corner tower and the coach house.
From Oud-Zuilen you are in the center of Utrecht in no time. A pleasant medium-sized city, with a number of places that are well worth a visit. You can park your bicycle for free (one day) under the town hall. From there you can walk straight to the old canal, where various wharf cellars have been given a new destination. They have become nice restaurants, where you can sit on the terrace, have a nice meal or drink and watch the boats sailing by. Utrecht is also a good shopping city, where everything is easily accessible in the center. There are also a number of nice museums, especially 'the Speelklok museum', formerly 'museum van Speelklok tot Pierement', which is worth a visit.