Continent
Europe
Country
Netherlands
Next Big City
Leeuwarden, Amsterdam
Next Town
Workum
 
Type:
Lake
Rider Ability:
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Camping, School, Shop, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking

Water

Type:
Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small wave
Hazards:
Swimmers
Quality:
Cloudy
Best Tide:
Tide independent

Kitesurfing on the big inner sea in the Netherlands. About 100m shallow water. Ideal for beginners. Behind a sandbar water is up to 5m deep. The spot is a bit crowded sometimes. In strong winds it can have waves up to 1m. Sandy bottom.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Medium
Hazards:
Other
Beach Users:
June, July, August

Open sandy beach. Wastebaskets and other objects form a risk in gusts. As always best to launch in the direction of the water. Areas with grass to pump up the kite.

Weather

Spring:
Normal
Summer:
Shorty
Fall:
Normal
Winter:
Thick

Air: May to August about 15-30°C, September to April: 0-15°C. Water: May to August fine (a shorty will do), from September to April you need a wetsuit, in December/January it can get cold (around 0°C). January to August unpredictable, can be anything. September to December usually cloudy/rainy weather though in this period, especially when there's wind.

Wind

Best Months:
March, May, June, September, October, November
Wind Type:
Frontal
Best Direction:
S, SW, NW, NNW
Main Direction:
SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW

Wind is best in autumn and spring. But also in winter and summer there are a lot of nice days. Stable wind from South to West to North. East wind is a bit gusty usually and it's offshore.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Medium walk

Comming from Groningen on the A7 take the exit Bolsward. Then onto B359 to Workum. Comming from Arnheim on the A50 until Zwolle and then onto the B50 until Emmeloord, then A6, and take exit 17 'Lemmer' and on B359 to Workum. Just drive into Workum (little town on the map in the region Friesland). Than drive to the beach which is on the Isselmeer side. Look for signs 'It Soal'. It is a harbor and camping close to the beach. Parking can be for free, normally a fee has to be paid.

Extra information

Rules
Zones, Time, Fees

From the camping you can walk with your gear to the beach. Supermarket and shower at the camping. Several kitesurf schools, but without permanent office there. A ban can happen easily if we don't take care, specially in summer with lots of swimmers. During June to August you must launch and land your kite in the water. Then the kite zone is to the North of the beach. Look out for a yellow flag on a stick, here all new rules are posted. Read those before you rig your gear. You need to register at the two kite schools, only during the high season.

Nightlife

No nightlife.