To Dutch from Belgian ship registers…

For five years Eileen of Avoca has flown the Belgian flag from her flagstaff, for no reason other than I happened to live in Belgium when she was purchased.

At the time Belgian registration was highly sought after, the choice “flag of convenience” for sailors seeking freedom from excessive bureaucratic regulation.

This is no longer the case, as I was to discover upon applying for my 5 year renewal.

If I can’t show the new identity card and include a letter from the council stating that I do indeed still reside in a particular municipality (the police actually comes to check), then it’s a no go…

The UK small ships register might have been an acceptable alternative, except that for long term navigators, a clause that requires you to be “ordinarily resident” (i.e. residing in the UK for 185 days in a 12 month period) makes it difficult to do anything other than bend the rules.

What’s left?

I found my solution here

Dutch registry by mail order!

It cost me a fair packet (approximately 300 Euro) and it’s only valid for two years, but at least I can carry on with legitimate adventuring.