I would like to thank Wanderlust Pulse for writing this guest post about the best places to surf in the Netherlands! As I’m not a surfer, I’m very thankful to provide you all with helpful information I wouldn’t otherwise be able to give you.
Be sure to also check out my other posts on the Netherlands, like Rotterdam Zoo and a guide to cycling.
So let’s get into the best places to surf in the Netherlands…
While you wouldn’t expect it, the Netherlands has some wonderful surf spots. In fact, it’s not uncommon for some of the surf locations in the Netherlands to have better surfing conditions than some of the places in France!
Because of its location and the large number of small islands in The Netherlands, Zeeland is a beautiful location for surfing. We decided to share the most popular places to surf in the Netherlands below.
Scheveningen
Since the nineties, Scheveningen has been on the map as the surfing location in the Netherlands. Over the past 20 years, Scheveningen has built up a real history and community, resulting in a strong local scene with many different surf shops and surf schools.
Please note: Since Scheveningen is the most popular surf spot in the Netherlands, surfing here often means that you have to share the waves with hundreds of other surfers.
A few years back Yannick de Jager – a pro surfer from the Netherlands – created a video about surfing in Scheveningen. He explains it’s the perfect location to surf because of low-pressure systems which creates the perfect waves close to the coast.
Scheveningen beach as a live webcam which shows you if it’s surf weather or not.Additionally: Scheveningen is the most popular seaside town in Holland, mostly because of its lively neighbourhood and cozy shops. We’d advise you to bring your camera along, because the area makes it easy to create a unique photograph.
Texel
Another ideal surfing location in the Netherlands are the beaches of Texel, located on the Wadden islands. Due to its (somewhat remote) location, the surroundings are fairly quiet, which is why you can see seals on the beach but also find the highest waves in the country.
Surfing tip; Both pole 17 as pole 9 are known as being the perfect surfing spots for the locals. This is because there is a lot of swell from the northwest, without any wind. These circumstances should give you a pleasant holiday feeling.
Wijk aan Zee
Another surf spot that is almost as popular as the one in Scheveningen are the beaches at Wijk aan Zee. Thanks to its sandbanks, these beaches are very beneficial for the creation of beautiful waves! It is for this reason that the locals are nicknaming it “Wijkiki”, as a reference to the beaches of Hawaii.
As far as surfing conditions are concerned, the harbor of IJsmuiden provides the perfect shelter for wind, making sure it mainly comes from the south or the southwest. The only disadvantage of this surf spot is that it is quite close to the factory of Tata Steel, which makes for a miserable view and sometimes even annoying smoke.
Note: Because Wijk aan zee is located fairly close to Amsterdam and Haarlem, it is a frequently visited spot for surfers. So it can get busy! So keep an eye on their live stream.
Zandvoort
Another popular surf spot for the people of Amsterdam are the beaches of Zandvoort, this because it is perfectly accessible by train. Be sure to check out my blog post on Zandvoort for the non-surfers here!
Keep in mind that there can be strong winds from the South or the North, resulting in a strong current or tide. The advantage is that there are always waves that break, which means you can surf quite a lot in Zandvoort. However: If the (head)wind is too strong, you can always divert to Wijk aan Zee, which is located fairly close to Zandvoort.
Zandvoort also has a live stream, where you can follow the surf conditions closely.
When can you surf in The Netherlands?
Obviously, summer is the best and most pleasant season to surf in The Netherlands because of the weather conditions, although you can actually continue to surf all year round.
While the seawater temperatures in the Netherlands can rise to 20 degrees in the summer, winter temperatures are more likely to sit around 5 degrees celsius. You’ll always need a bit of luck with the waves, but especially in Zeeland, you have the best chances for good surfing conditions!
Surfing conditions at the North Sea
Even when the waves are good, there is still one thing you should keep into account: the temperature of the water. This is because the water in the Netherlands can sometimes get really cold. A solution for this is to keep an eye on the specialised surf weather websites (Surfweer.nl en windguru) and to provide yourself with a good wetsuit.
Why do you need a wetsuit?
As a water sports enthusiast, a suitable wetsuit is something that you should certainly wear when you dive into the water, mainly because wearing a wetsuit provides insulation (against hypothermia and energy loss), but secondly, because it helps you float and is therefore easier to swim with.
I hope after reading this, you’re prepared to go surfing in the Netherlands! Be sure to subscribe for more useful content.
Once again, thank you Wanderlust Pulse for the brilliant guest post!
I didn’t even realize that you could surf in the Netherlands, this is a fabulous list!
I’m glad you’ve learned something from this post!
Haha, I kind of laughed at the header, Why do you Need a Wetsuit? I am not going to lie even 20′ C which is barely 68’F is freaking freezing to this Cuban boy who loves the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico!
I will say this shows my ignorance of the Netherlands because I was actually surprised to see Sand Beaches at Wijk aan Zee & Zandvoort! I guess I expected either minor sand from the forest or rocky crags. Goes to show I need to explore more.
Netherlands is an incredible place to explore, you can do so much there that you wouldn’t even think of!
I had never associated Netherlands with surfing, but there are so many amazing places out there, and each one seems to be better than the other. I really like the look of Zandvoort.
Zandvoort is my favourite too! It’s the closest to Amsterdam so I love going there in the summer
I had seen people surf on the German North Sea, so I figured there would be some surfing in the Netherlands too. In Germany, the waves are good for beginners and intermediates but not really advanced surfers – well, I guess that covers 95% of all surfers anyway. For those monster waves, you may need to go to Hawaii or Oceania.
Well I’ll start off small here and progress to Hawaii when I can surf properly!