Map › IJsselmeer - Workum/Makkum › Makkum
Spot · tier 3 · Netherlands
Makkum
Makkum sits on the western IJsselmeer shore near the Afsluitdijk, with a shallow flat bay good for beginners and deeper water further out for advanced riders. It is a shoulder-season/winter-only spot: kiting is closed May-September to protect nesting birds in the surrounding nature reserve.
beginnerflat waterfreeride
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| season notes | Only open to kiting 1 October - 30 April each year |
| direction to shore | N, NW, W, SW, S favored |
| quality | steady |
Water
| type | flat |
|---|---|
| temp winter c | 4 |
| wetsuit | 5/4-6/5mm for the Oct-Apr season |
| tides | Minimal - inland lake |
| standing depth | Yes - shallow within the bay, deepening further out |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Protected bay is flat and shallow for beginners/schools; deeper water outside suits advanced riders and foiling |
Launch & crowd
| description | Designated zone at the northwestern point of the bay |
|---|---|
| vibe | Historic windsurf spot, can be congested with windsurfers |
Hazards
- Nature reserve/nesting-bird protection zones to the north
- Shipping fairway to Kornwerderzand (marked by red/green buoys)
- Westerly wind makes beach launch difficult - drift-launch from the water instead
Rules
- Kitesurfing permitted only 1 October - 30 April; prohibited the rest of the year
- Launch/land only in the designated zone at the northwest point of the bay/Makkum beach
Tips
- In westerly wind, drift-launch from the water rather than the beach
- Ask fellow kiters or spot coaches for a relaunch assist
Travel basics
| airport | AMS - Amsterdam Schiphol |
|---|---|
| accommodation | Free parking behind Camping Holle Poarte or paid parking at Strandhuys Hotel |
| cost level | mid |
Nearby: Workum
Sources: kitesurfvereniging.nl