Kayaking on the Dommel: The Mecca of Noise and Bustle!

The Dommel is a heavily traveled canoe river. Together with @FlussFahrerMatthes, I paddled from Neerpelt to Valkenswaard in the Gumotex Swing. Our journey started off calmly, but by noon, it was bustling from all directions. I had never seen so many canoes and kayaks before. The area is well-equipped for this, with many well-maintained entry and exit points and several sizable canoe rental companies, including their own buses to transport people to and from.
However, intriguing information signs on the bridge at Borkel and Schaft suggest that not everyone in this region enthusiastically welcomes this mass tourism, especially the residents living near the Dommel who often deal with significant noise disturbances from enthusiastic canoeists.
For those who cannot tolerate this as kayakers or stand-up paddlers, I have only one piece of advice: Avoid the peak season!
I was familiar with the Dommel from last winter when I paddled the same route with a much higher water level on a SUP board. It was snowing heavily back then, and there was no one else on the water. Today was quite different! It was sunny and warm at 27 degrees Celsius, and we encountered the first canoeists soon. Despite the crowds and the noise, it had a certain charm.
#kayak #canoeing #dommel