The Haringvliet is a former estuary in the Dutch province of South Holland, now functioning as a freshwater lake following its separation from the North Sea. The damming took place between 1956 and 1970 as part of the Delta Works, a response to the catastrophic 1953 floods. The water body forms part of the Rhine-Meuse delta and serves as a gateway to the Rhine river system. Since 2019, the Haringvliet locks have been regularly opened to allow migratory fish passage, which is an ongoing aspect of ecological restoration efforts in the area.

The lake offers open, expansive water with conditions that can vary considerably. Near the Haringvliet dam, the structure creates notably flat water even when winds are present from the north, making that area relatively sheltered. Elsewhere on the lake, paddlers should expect open-water conditions with wind exposure across a wide fetch. The surrounding landscape includes low-lying islands, reed beds, and estuary remnants, alongside the prominent hydraulic engineering infrastructure of the Delta Works.

One well-documented day trip runs from Hellevoetsluis to Middelharnis. The launch site in Hellevoetsluis is a small beach just west of the canal entering the town from the Haringvliet, with free adjacent parking and a paved walkway to the water. The route passes Slijkplaat, a low-lying island managed by Staatsbosbeheer and designated as a bird foraging and breeding area. Access to Slijkplaat is prohibited, and paddlers are expected to remain outside the buoy line encircling it.

The town of Hellevoetsluis, on the southern shore, is a historically significant maritime fortified town with 17th-century monuments including the Prinsehuis, the Jan Blanken dry dock (the first dry dock in the Netherlands), the corn mill De Hoop, and Fort Haerlem. Middelharnis, on the northern shore, has a historic harbor and offers a summer ferry service across the Haringvliet. The village of Stad aan 't Haringvliet is noted for its old harbor and has a sandy beach nearby. Marina facilities are available at Atlantica marina, which accommodates transient berths and provides water, electricity, showers, and parking.

The Haringvliet is accessible from Rotterdam by Water Bus, making it a practical destination for paddlers based in that city.