Full route on travellerspoint:
travellerspoint.com/map/#/trip/1129762
It is impossible to describe my Holland sailing impression in only one post. If you are going down from North to South and you have appropriate draught (less then 2.5 or 2 meters, don’t remember) you definitely need to go through Holland channels. There is a special route with no need of removing the mast. Locks, bridges, windmills, beautiful small towns. Moorings all along the way, so you can moor yourself and simply visit the supermarket for instance. All this combined with a charm of locals and their water life and culture leaves you speechless.
All you have to do to sail through Holland is buy a Wateratlas Staande Mastroute. This book is sold widely. So you don’t need to worry. We have bought it on Norderney Island.
Our route was: Delfzijl, Gronningen, Zoutkamp, Dokkum, Leeuwarden, Sneek, Lemmer, Amsterdam, Ijmuiden
We have to spend some time in Sneek repairing our start motor. Apart from this, the whole route was amazing.
Sweden to the Mediterranean route: Sweden – Kiel channel – Wadden Zee, Staande Mast Route (Holland) – English channel – Bay of Biscay – Galicia – Portugal – Gibraltar-Almerimar
Sailboat: Hallberg Rassy Rasmus 35