Best time to kitesurf Wijk aan Zee

The best time to kitesurf at Wijk aan Zee is January–May, September–December, with about 6 windy days a month (15+ knots) and water around 11°C.

Wijk aan Zee, North Holland, Netherlands

Sports: Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Surfing, SUP

Best time to go: January–May, September–December

Wijk aan Zee is a small village on the North Holland coast, just north of the long Noordpier, the northern breakwater of IJmuiden harbour, with the steelworks behind the dunes to the south. It is about 30 km from Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. You park behind the dunes and walk to the beach, which has several beach bars.

Next to Scheveningen it is one of the best-known surf spots in the Netherlands. The pier catches the North Sea swell and the waves wrap around it: a south-west wind brings the biggest waves, a south wind the cleanest, as the pier gives some shelter. The spot depends a lot on the tide, and around high water the waves can get powerful. The surf season is mainly autumn to spring, when the North Sea storms send in swell.

Kiters and windsurfers use the long sand beach between the pier and the village in winds from south-west to north. Surf and kite schools work on the beach by the Noordpier and in the village. Never go out in an east wind, which blows offshore here: the lifeboat crew has had to rescue kiters after the wind suddenly turned. Keep well away from the pier and the harbour entrance, where the currents are strong and ships pass. Don't leave valuables in the car. The water is about 6 °C in February and 20 °C in August: a 5/4 or thicker with boots, gloves and a hood in winter, and a 4/3 even in summer. The nearest hospital is in Beverwijk.

Month by month at Wijk aan Zee

January: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 6°C, air 7°C (nights 3°C), 8 sunny days, 15 rainy days
February: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 6°C, air 8°C (nights 4°C), 10 sunny days, 14 rainy days
March: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 8°C, air 11°C (nights 4°C), 22 sunny days, 11 rainy days
April: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 10°C, air 13°C (nights 6°C), 25 sunny days, 10 rainy days
May: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 13°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), 28 sunny days, 12 rainy days
June: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 17°C, air 20°C (nights 14°C), 27 sunny days, 12 rainy days
July: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.4 m, water 20°C, air 21°C (nights 15°C), 28 sunny days, 15 rainy days
August: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 15°C), 29 sunny days, 11 rainy days
September: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 19°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 25 sunny days, 14 rainy days
October: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 16°C, air 16°C (nights 11°C), 17 sunny days, 17 rainy days
November: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 11°C, air 11°C (nights 6°C), 11 sunny days, 19 rainy days
December: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 8°C, air 8°C (nights 4°C), 5 sunny days, 14 rainy days