With Brexit likely to happen in the near future, UK Skippers planning on visiting European waters this season need to be aware of the location of the Ports of Entry (POE) in the countries adjacent to the United Kingdom. With this in mind, we have checked and revised all the POEs along the French, Belgian and Dutch coastlines. One thing to note is that over the years the number of Customs and Immigration ports has declined due to lack of demand, making fewer POEs, however this could well change in the future.

FRANCE

For the North Sea/English Channel coast of France the designated POEs are:

Caen-Ouistreham
Cherbourg
Dieppe
Le Havre
Roscoff 
St Malo

For those cruisers sailing from further west, ‘Aber Vac’h has often been a convenient landfall. Unfortunately this is NOT a POE. The closest suitable port is Brest,  a more complicated port to visit as the passage through the Channel du Four (one of the major tidal gates guarding the entrance to Biscay) has to be traversed at the right state of tide.

For full details of Clearance for France, see the Noonsite/France/Formalities page.

BELGIUM

Designated POEs are:

Antwerp
Oostende
Blankenberge (April to September only
Zeebrugge

For full details of Clearance for Belgium, see the Noonsite/Belgium/Formalities page.

NETHERLANDS

If planning to arrive in the Netherlands, then the most convenient POE for UK east coast skippers is:

Vissingen (Flushing)

For full details of Clearance for the Netherlands, see the Noonsite/Netherlands/Formalities page.

Useful Links:

Other useful advice for U.K. boaters can be found in these Royal Yachting Association reports:-

Status of Vessels Lying in EU

No Deal Brexit Scenario

Knowledge and Advice Boating Abroad/Entry and Exit Formalities