Koninklijke Roei-en Zeilvereniging De Maas (the Royal Maas Yacht Club)

About

Koninklijke Roei- en Zeilvereeniging 'De Maas' is a combined sailing and rowing club based in Rotterdam, offering recreational and competitive sailing and rowing activities on the Nieuwe Maas, Kralingse Plas, and Rotte. The club was founded in 1851 and received the 'Royal' predicate in 1901. The clubhouse, built in the Jugendstil style, opened around 1908-1909 and has survived World War II. Women were admitted to the club starting in 1931, and it has produced high-level sailors and rowers, including honorary members such as Conny van Rietschoten. More details can be found on the club's Wikipedia page.

Accommodation

The club features a historic clubhouse and Sociëteit located at Veerdam 1, which includes a restaurant, bar, event rooms, and regular opening hours. There are also separate operational locations for on-water activities, including Kralingse Plas for sailing, Rotte boathouses for rowing, and a Zierikzee marina for keelboats. For more information, please visit the contact page.

Facilities

The club provides boatyard facilities including boat sheds and a workshop located at the Prinsemolenpad and Plantage/Oude Plantagepad. A Bootsman and workshop staff perform daily maintenance and repairs on the club fleet, which is stored and maintained across these sites. More details can be found here.

Moorings and Anchorage

The club maintains several moorings for open boats on the Kralingse Plas and has berthing facilities for keelboats at the Zierikzee marina. A havenmeester is present at the Kralingse Plas location to assist with mooring arrangements. Further information is available on the club's sailing page.

Training

The club offers structured sailing lessons and training from beginner to high-performance levels, including youth lessons starting from around 7 years old, youth camps, and adult lessons from May to September. Rowing programs are available for all levels, with coached sessions and indoor training. Safety protocols are in place, including a published stoplicht system and criteria for vaarverboden. More details can be found on the training page.

Racing

The club is active in both rowing and sailing competitions, organizing events such as the Rotte Roei Competitie and participating in regional, national, and international regattas. It has produced Olympic-level athletes and has a history of major offshore successes. More information is available on the racing page.

Cruising

The club organizes member cruising trips and summer sailing camps, including domestic and occasional international trips to destinations such as France, Denmark, and England. Youth sailing camps are also offered. More details can be found on the club's cruising page.

Social Activities

The club has a vibrant sociëteitsprogramma, hosting monthly Sociëteitsavonden, regular dinners, and various events such as bridge, whiskey, and wine gatherings, as well as family days and New Year celebrations. The Sociëteit has published opening hours and an events calendar for members. More information is available on the social page.

Dress Code

The Sociëteit enforces a dress code requiring 'Tenue de Ville' during regular weekday hours. Members are expected to dress appropriately, avoiding sneakers, slippers, sportswear, or t-shirts. Additional house rules cover phone use and a no-smoking policy inside the Sociëteit, with smoking allowed on the terrace. More details can be found on the house rules page.

Seasonal Operation

The sailing instruction season runs from mid-March to mid-October for youth lessons and from May to September for adult lessons. Rowing operates year-round, subject to the club's safety rules. The Sociëteit has regular weekday opening hours, with occasional summer closures noted in the calendar. More information can be found on the seasonal operations page.