The warm weather made for a wonderful season to be out on the water. At the same time, this poses major challenges on Dutch and European waterways.

Water levels in rivers, lakes, and inland waterways are currently extremely low. Shallow areas are forming more quickly than usual, and familiar routes can suddenly become hazardous.

It is precisely under these conditions that an up-to-date and reliable route planner is essential on board.

n the 2026 editions of WinGPS 6, you can easily view waterway obstructions, and if you have an internet connection, they are automatically updated as soon as a change occurs.

The yellow triangles indicate closures across the entire waterway network in Europe. You can click on them for more information. The waterway network is also highlighted in yellow in the areas where a closure is in effect. This allows you to immediately see which sections you may not be able to navigate and to check whether the closure applies to you.  

Our route planner even takes obstructions into account and routes around them.

We’ve created an instructional video for you on this topic: 

Tip: The video is in Dutch, but you can change the subtitles to your own language.

Don't let the drought spoil your boating fun. Update your WinGPS license and DKW charts today so you always have the most up-to-date information on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Good news: there’s a major update for our WinGPS navigation app for iOS WinGPS Marine Plus!

With this paid version of WinGPS for your iPad and/or iPhone, you could already plan routes, connect to AIS, and view your routes, but now you can also: 

• Download and view GRIB-files
• View NL tidal data
• View photo's of bridges and locks
• Import GPX files

and more... So don’t wait any longer and download WinGPS Marine Plus on your iPhone and iPad:

Tip: This is an update for the paid version of WinGPS for iOS. The free version has not received an update.

A complete overview of what's new:

• New Weather & Tides display featuring wind, rain, air pressure, temperature, cloud cover, waves, currents, water levels, and depth, where available. This also includes the familiar NL tides for the Dutch coast, as well as currents extending to the German Bight. 
• View forecasts and tides using the new time control bar.
• Import routes and tracks from GPX files.
• New News Center with unread message notifications.
• View and zoom in on photos of bridges, locks, and other structures.
• Improved “Show on Chart” options and clearer menu navigation.
• Routes now avoid known obstacles by default, after which you can choose to “Ignore obstructions” (under Menu > Settings > My Vessel). This used to work the other way around.
• Clearer progress indicators for chart and data downloads.
• Improved display of the NMEA connection status.
• Improvements to dark mode, startup, account management, and overall stability. 

It’s that time of year again: Sneekweek is just around the corner! The sailing spectacle of the year not only offers plenty of fun and sportsmanship, but for us, as a proud Frisian company, it’s also the perfect opportunity to treat you to limited-time discounts of up to €40.

Are you planning to get out on the water this season, and could your navigation system use an upgrade? Then now is the time: take advantage of the Sneekweek discounts today.

Make sure you’re always sailing with the most up-to-date charts. Our popular DKW charts are now available at a special discount during Sneekweek (through August 6).

You’ll receive a €20 discount per chart on: 

This discount applies only to new editions, but not to chart upgrades.

Want to get the most out of your navigation system? Whether you’re a recreational boater or an avid offshore sailor, WinGPS helps you sail more safely and comfortably.

Only during Sneekweek (through August 6), you can take advantage of a €40 discount on:

The new charts for the Wadden Sea, DKW 1811 and DKW 1812, and DKW 1805 (Oosterschelde, Veerse Meer, and Grevelingenmeer) are now available! The quarterly update for DKW UK1, covering the English and Scottish east coasts, is now online as well. 

It is especially important to have up-to-date charts on board in these ever-changing and busy areas. 

Do you have the 2026 edition? If so, the updates are now available for download in WinGPS. 

Don’t have the 2026 edition yet? Order it here now: 

The new charts from the 1805, 1811, and 1812 series are now available, and we've prepared them for you so you can download these updates in WinGPS. 

Important changes include, for example, an updated depth profile of Lake Grevelingen: almost all values have been adjusted compared to the previous version. 

In the Wadden Sea, a number of sandbars have shifted or changed shape, such as the Richel between Vlieland and Terschelling, and the Rif between Ameland and Schiermonnikoog.

The Simonszand has even moved a few hundred meters further out. The “Eilanderbalg” channel has eroded a larger section of Schiermonnikoog. The Kamperzand is now also shown on the chart, a sandbar between Ameland and Terschelling. West of Terschelling lies the Boomkensdiep; it has now been mapped in greater detail, but the channel still has no buoyage.

Have you seen the new DKW 1600+ yet? This digital nautical chart pairs perfectly with the DKW UK1 and the 1800 series, and thanks to the same chart display, it integrates seamlessly with them, making it feel like a single, continuous chart.

This chart also features new alarm zones, allowing you to navigate these busy waters even more safely.