Continent
Europe
Country
Netherlands
Next Big City
Amsterdam
Next Town
Beverwijk, Wijk aan Zee
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Rooms, Camping, School, Shop, Rental, Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking

Water

Type:
Shallow, Small wave, Medium wave
Hazards:
Currents, Mole
Quality:
Cloudy
Best Tide:
High tide, Low tide, Coming tide

Depending on the wind direction, swell and tide the water can be anything from flat to choppy or with fairly large and clean waves (especially in fall and winter). A jetty next to this beach makes for clean waves when the wind comes from the Southwest, because it reduces chop made by wind. Waves can be up to 3m in high winds, but are usually irregular breakers due to the sandbars beneath. It is one of the better wavesurf spots in Holland though. Tide does play a role along the coast of Holland, but because of the jetty, this effect is also reduced. Large pier to the south, no hazards with prevailing South to Westerly winds. Keep safe distance with WNW to Northerly winds.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Big
Hazards:
Shells
Beach Users:
May, June, July

Wijk aan Zee has one of the nicest beaches along the coast because it is wide: lots of space even on a hot summers day when most of the beaches are packed.

Weather

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

It can be anything at any time or season. Summer is usually nice with sun and temps of 17-25°C. But because of the sea climate there can also be rain and storms and low temps. Temps drop to beneath 10°C, and sometimes it freezes. Water temp is from 18°C in summer to as low as 6°C in winter. You almost always need a wetsuit and a thick one in winter plus hood and gloves. When the outside temp is above 12°C, which does happen in winter it can be fine though.

Wind

Best Months:
March, April, May, August, September, October
Wind Type:
Frontal
Best Direction:
SSW, SW, WSW
Main Direction:
SW

Southwest is the predominant direction. Nice winds with depressions, because there is hardly any stable wind (thermals) in summer. Fall and spring usually provides the best winds, but it can be unpredictable in storms. Winter actually has the most winds. Best directions: N, NE, SW and W.



How to get there

Transport
Car, Bus
Access
Medium walk

From Amsterdam follow the A9 to Beverwijk and when in Beverwijk follow the directions to Wijk aan Zee. In Wijk aan Zee (a small town) drive south along Corus (a steelmill) to a large parking space at the beginning of the jetty, and follow this foorpath (100 m) to the beach.

Extra information

Rules
Zones, Time

Kitesurfing only to the right of the landmark pole in front of the beach restaurant Aloha in the period May to September.

Nightlife

Regular beach/surf parties at Timboektoe and Aloha Beach reastaurants. For good nightlife go to Amsterdam.