Groningen: Private Highlights BBQ with Drinks on the Lake

A barbecue can float surprisingly well. This private two-hour cruise on Paterswoldsemeer pairs a moving boat ride with a floating terrace, a captain, drinks, and a freshly served BBQ. You get open water, changing views, and time with your own group instead of sharing a crowded sightseeing boat.

I like the relaxed format and the fact that the crew handles the sailing, service, and drinks while you eat. I also like the extra touches, including stand-up paddleboards, blankets, and a roof that can close if rain arrives. The main consideration is the price: at $517 for a group of up to eight, it makes the most sense when the cost is shared by a full private group.

Key points at a glance

• A private floating terrace: Your group has the boat to yourselves, with room listed for 8 to 18 people.
• Two hours on Paterswoldsemeer: The cruise combines sightseeing, food, drinks, and time on the water.
• The crew does the work: A captain sails while the service team welcomes you, serves drinks, and handles the BBQ.
• A welcome drink plus three drinks per person: Beer, wine, and other drinks are part of the package, according to the activity details.
• Weather cover and blankets: The roof can close in rainy weather, and blankets are available for cooler moments.
• More than a meal: SUPs are included, and the onboard activities have also included badminton and other small games.

Why a Paterswoldsemeer cruise works so well

Paterswoldsemeer gives this outing a clear sense of place. You are not simply sitting in a restaurant with a view of the water. You are moving across the lake, watching the shoreline change, and eating outdoors on a boat designed as a terrace.

That difference matters. A standard BBQ can feel ordinary once the food is served. Here, the cruise keeps the afternoon moving without demanding much from you. You can talk, look out over the lake, raise a drink, or step onto a SUP when you want a change of pace.

The format is especially good for groups that want private time together. It could fit a birthday, company outing, bachelor party, team-building session, brainstorming meeting, or an easy afternoon with friends. The activity is social without being tightly scheduled.

You also avoid the usual work involved in a private boat rental. The captain manages the boat, petrol is included, and service comes to you. That leaves you free to focus on the food and the people around you.

Boarding at De Steiger

The floating terrace comes to the jetty at De Steiger at the agreed time. Boarding takes place at this exact meeting point, and the boat returns there when the two hours are over.

That simple arrangement is useful because you do not need to search for a separate marina or arrange a transfer between the meeting point and the boat. You should still allow enough time to reach De Steiger before boarding, since the boat arrives for the agreed start rather than waiting through a long boarding window.

The private format begins as soon as you step aboard. A jovial captain and sailor welcome the group with a drink, setting the tone for an outing that is more about ease than formal sightseeing commentary.

The host or greeter can communicate in Dutch or English. That makes the activity workable for mixed-language groups, although the supplied information does not describe a detailed guided narration of the lake.

A floating terrace instead of a standard tour boat

The boat is designed around comfort and shared time. Picture a terrace that happens to move across the lake, with space for a BBQ, drinks, and conversation.

The open setting is the main attraction. You can enjoy the water and the surrounding views without sitting inside a conventional cabin. At the same time, the roof can be closed if rain arrives, so the plan does not depend entirely on perfect weather.

That roof is a practical feature, not just a backup detail. Weather can change quickly during a lake outing, and a covered terrace means a shower does not have to end the BBQ. Blankets are also included, which should help if the air feels cool while the boat is moving.

The listed capacity creates one point worth checking before booking. The price is advertised for a private group of up to eight, while the terrace is described as holding 8 to 18 people. Ask the provider how larger groups are priced and arranged, rather than assuming the $517 rate applies to every group size.

The two-hour route on Paterswoldsemeer

The boat spends two hours cruising on Paterswoldsemeer. This is long enough for a proper meal and a good stretch of time on the water, but short enough to fit into a day of exploring Groningen Province.

The route is described as a sightseeing cruise rather than a fixed series of shore stops. That means the lake itself is the destination. You get views across the water, a gentle boat ride, and the chance to enjoy the surroundings while the crew takes care of the practical work.

Do not expect a packed sightseeing schedule. There is no promise of several landings, monuments, or a narrated tour. The value lies in the setting and the company, not in checking off a list of attractions.

The itinerary also lists swimming and stand-up paddleboarding. These options give the outing some flexibility. You can stay seated with a drink, or use the SUPs for a more active break if the conditions and your group make that appealing.

BBQ, drinks, and service

Food is at the center of the trip. The crew serves the BBQ while you are on the lake, so you do not need to organize a grill, shop for supplies, or divide cooking duties among the group.

That arrangement makes a difference for a birthday or work event. One person is not stuck tending the BBQ while everyone else talks. The staff handle service, and the boat continues its route.

The available information does not list the exact meat, side dishes, vegetarian choices, or allergy provisions. If anyone in your group has dietary restrictions, ask The Lake Events for the current menu before booking. Do not assume the BBQ automatically includes a vegetarian or special-diet option.

Drinks begin with a welcome drink, followed by three drinks per person. Beer and wine are specifically mentioned, and the crew serves drinks during the meal. This is generous enough for a relaxed two-hour outing, but the details do not state the full drink menu or explain how additional drinks are handled.

A useful point from the feedback is the strong praise for both the food and the drinks. The BBQ was described as excellent, while the organization, music, decorations, and drinks all received especially warm approval. That combination suggests the outing is planned as a complete event, not just a boat rental with food placed on a table.

SUPs, swimming, and the little extras

The included SUPs are a real advantage for groups with mixed interests. Some people may want to paddle, while others prefer to remain on the terrace. Having both choices keeps the afternoon from feeling too rigid.

Swimming is also listed as part of the Paterswoldsemeer itinerary. The information does not specify a dedicated swimming stop, water temperature, or changing facilities, so treat it as an available possibility rather than a guaranteed scheduled part of the cruise.

The extra activities can give a private group a bit more energy. Feedback specifically praised the presence of paddleboards, badminton, and other small activities. These details are useful for company groups or birthday parties, where a meal alone may not be enough to keep everyone involved.

Music and decoration have also been part of the setup. Those touches matter if you are arranging an event rather than simply booking lunch on a boat. They help create a party mood, although the activity description does not promise a particular playlist or decoration theme.

Who gets the best value from $517

The listed price is $517 per group of up to eight. Split evenly among eight people, that works out to about $64.63 each. For a private two-hour cruise with a captain, petrol, service, BBQ, welcome drink, three additional drinks per person, SUPs, blankets, and a covered terrace, that is a reasonable group-event price.

The value becomes less attractive for a small group. If only four people attend, the same group price works out to about $129.25 each. You are paying for privacy and the whole boat setup, not just a meal or a seat on a cruise.

That private pricing is also the point. You are buying control over the atmosphere, the company, and the pace. For a work team, birthday group, or bachelor party, avoiding strangers may be worth more than finding the cheapest possible lake cruise.

The capacity information deserves attention here. The advertised group rate covers up to eight, while the terrace is said to hold 8 to 18 people. If your group is larger than eight, confirm the final price and the exact boat arrangement before paying.

The mood: social, easygoing, and lightly active

This is not a silent sightseeing trip. It is built around conversation, food, drinks, and shared time. You can sit back and watch the lake, but the SUPs, swimming, badminton, and music give it a more social party feel.

I would choose it for people who enjoy spending time together without a strict program. The activity can work for colleagues who need a change from a meeting room, friends marking a birthday, or a group that wants a simple afternoon with food already arranged.

It may not suit you if you want detailed information about local history, a long sailing route, or several stops on shore. The supplied details focus on the floating terrace, the BBQ, and the lake setting. Those are the reasons to book it.

The two-hour length is another factor. It is enough time to settle in and eat, but it is not an all-day event. That makes it easy to combine with other plans in Groningen Province, though the exact starting times depend on availability.

Weather, comfort, and accessibility

The roof can be closed if it rains, which gives the outing useful protection from poor weather. Blankets are included for cooler conditions, adding comfort without requiring you to pack extra supplies.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. If a member of your group uses a wheelchair, I would still confirm the exact boarding conditions at De Steiger and the layout of the boat with The Lake Events. The accessibility listing is helpful, but the supplied information does not explain the jetty surface, ramp, or onboard toilet arrangements.

The activity is private, so your group can keep the atmosphere relaxed and personal. That is helpful for people who prefer not to adapt to a large public tour.

The Lake Events and the guest experience

The provider is The Lake Events. The crew includes a captain and service staff, with Dutch and English available.

The strongest praise centers on the human side of the outing. The staff have been described as very friendly, and the organization received high marks. That matters on a short cruise because delays, poor service, or a badly handled BBQ would take up a large share of the total time.

The food appears to be one of the biggest strengths. The BBQ has been praised as first-class, and the drinks were also singled out as good. Decorations and music have added to the party atmosphere, while the extra games and boards helped make the afternoon feel thoughtfully prepared.

Those details do not guarantee that every departure will feel identical. Still, they point to a provider that understands how to run a private group event, rather than treating the boat as a bare transport service.

Booking details worth knowing

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold the plan without paying on the day of booking, which is useful when you are still coordinating a group.

Starting times depend on availability, and the cruise lasts two hours. The meeting point is De Steiger, where the floating terrace arrives at the agreed time. The cruise ends back at the same point.

The price includes the captain, petrol, service, BBQ, welcome drink, three drinks per person, SUPs, blankets, and the cruise itself. Ask about menu contents, extra drinks, larger groups, and any dietary needs before you finalize the booking.

Should you book the Paterswoldsemeer BBQ cruise?

Book it if you want a private, easygoing group event with food and drinks already handled. The covered terrace, friendly service, BBQ, SUPs, and lake views give you more than a simple boat ride, while the two-hour length keeps the commitment manageable.

I would especially recommend it for a full group of eight, since sharing the $517 cost makes the price much easier to justify. It is also a strong choice for birthdays, company outings, bachelor parties, and informal team sessions.

Skip it if your priority is a detailed cultural tour, a long sailing adventure, or the lowest per-person price for a small party. For the right group, though, this is a cheerful way to trade a restaurant table for a floating one.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The activity starts at De Steiger. The floating terrace comes to the jetty at the agreed time, and boarding takes place at that location.

Where does the cruise end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at De Steiger.

How long is the boat trip?

The cruise lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a captain, petrol, service, a BBQ, a welcome drink, three drinks per person, the Paterswoldsemeer cruise, SUPs, and blankets.

Is the activity private?

Yes. It is offered as a private group activity.

How many people can join?

The terrace is described as having room for 8 to 18 people. The listed price of $517 is for a group of up to eight, so larger groups should confirm the price with The Lake Events.

Is the boat covered if it rains?

Yes. The terrace roof can be closed in case of rain.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What languages are available?

The host or greeter can communicate in Dutch and English.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.