Navigating the water by canoe is the art that can be learned at the Herbie Bird Canoeing School. All levels and ages are catered for, either in a one-to-one lesson in groups. You can bring your own materials or hire ours, either is possible.

What do we do?
Herbie Bird Canoeing School is a true school of canoeing. Travelling over the water by canoe is what is meant by navigating by canoe, this involves a single paddle and generally there are two people in a boat. These boats are also called “Canadian”. This does not mean we cannot do anything with a kayak, as kayaks are also available at De Kluft.

The lessons are based on the demand. While this can concentrate on improving the canoeing technique, the basic skills can also be taught. Most customers that step into the boats with us are people who have already discovered than canoeing requires more effort than they had initially thought.

Walking and cycling appear to many to be straightforward. For this reason many people think that canoeing is also easy, that it doesn’t need to be learned. In practice, however, this is not the case – canoeing is not as easy and people think. This is down to a lack of technique.

Herbie Bird Canoeing School can teach you the basic skills in a very short time.

Where do you find us?
Herbie Bird Canoeing School works out of De Kluft Recreation Centre. We use a reasonably sheltered area where it does not often happen that lessons have to be cancelled due to weather conditions. The area of natural beauty in which lessons take place provides an extra dimension to our school.

Overnight stays are also easy to arrange, camping with a tent, camper van or caravan, taking a hut or a room, all of these are possible. All in all, De Kluft is an excellent operating base.

Who are we?
The canoeing school is managed by Arij van der Kooij and Rick Kramer, both of whom are trained canoeing instructors with considerable experience in the area of navigating by canoe but who are also comfortable in kayaks.

Guided tour
A guided tour canoe through the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, during which you get a wonderful impression of this amazing marshland. We provide you with lots of information, and naturally, if you wish, give you tips about paddling. This is a lovely combination of a sports activity with learning something interesting about the natural environment.

We also guide schoolchildren while paddling. We watch their technique, provide them with tips on improving this, and show you a wonderful route to navigate based on duration of the route and experience.
 

How to reach us?
To contact us, please send an e-mail to info@herbiebird.nl. Alternatively, you can reach us by telephone at + 31 (0) 651-828955. The person to contact is Arij van der Kooij. If you have any questions, you can of course contact De Kluft Recreation Centre.