Magnet Fishing in Kampen! Treasure Hunt at the 300-Year-Old Sword Canal

Magnets away from Kampen, Netherlands!

This spot is legendary in Bondi Treasure Hunter history, it’s the same historic canal where we once pulled up a 300-year-old sword, believed to belong to a ship captain.

Today, we return in freezing weather to see what else the mud might reveal. If you’ve ever wondered what magnet fishing in winter is like, keep reading: this is a treasure hunt you don’t want to miss.

Winter Magnet Fishing at Historic Kampen

We arrive in Kampen early in the morning. The wind is icy and the grass is frozen stiff, but the canal is perfect for magnet fishing.

Our plan today:

• test our strongest neodymium magnets

• work along the same canal edge where the sword was found

• drag the magnet slowly and methodically

• break through the suction layer where heavy relics sink down in the mud

Many long-time magnet fishers know that the best finds settle deep below the muck, especially in old cities like Kampen. 

Magnet Fishing Techniques for Deep Mud 

Even with strong magnets, some finds stay trapped under suction.
Here’s the technique we used today:

1. Drop & Drag. Drop your magnet in the water and drag it with you while you're walking along the edge

2. Zig Zag. Here you cover different angles from the same spot.

3. Grave Digger. This one is perfect for muddy areas. Throw your magnet into the water as hard as you can, this way your magnet will sink deep into the mud.

4. Slow Pull. Stay in the same spot and throw your magnet in the same line over and over again. Your magnet will sink deeper into the mud every time, reaching items that have been buried for centuries.
   

Check out this article to read more about these 4 different magnet fishing techniques.

Why Kampen Is a Magnet Fishing Hotspot

Kampen sits on major medieval trade routes. For centuries, merchants, thieves, and transport boats used these waterways. That means the canal floor can contain:

• tools

• weapons

• ship parts

• coins

• locks + safes

• historically valuable relics

This is what makes Kampen one of the best magnet fishing locations in the Netherlands for history lovers.

Want to Magnet Fish Here Yourself?

If you're planning your own treasure hunt in Kampen or anywhere with deep muddy canals, make sure you bring:

• a strong neodymium fishing magnet
  

• heavy-duty rope

• waterproof gloves

• patience in the cold

Why Use Strong Neodymium Magnets?

Cheap magnets break, rust, or lose strength quickly, or simply aren't strong enough.
Made-for-magnet-fishing neodymium magnets:

• connect better, even through thick mud

• hold onto heavy objects

• don't lose their strength

• are made of 100% neodymium