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Spot · tier 2 · Netherlands
Wijk aan Zee
Wijk aan Zee's kite beach sits by the North Pier at Velsen-Noord near IJmuiden, just north of Amsterdam, where southwest wind wraps quality waves in behind the pier. It's a North Sea beach favored by advanced riders, run under a strict two-zone system that separates kiters from swimmers.
wavesfreeridefoil
Wind
| season notes | Rideable year-round; wind data from the KNMI IJmuiden station |
|---|---|
| avg knots | 15-25 |
| direction to shore | NW, W, SW ideal |
| quality | steady |
Water
| type | waves |
|---|---|
| temp summer c | 18 |
| temp winter c | 6 |
| currents | Nearly constant strong current flowing south to north |
| standing depth | No - deep water |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Suitable for beginners and advanced riders (foil, wave, freeride); smaller waves at the north end of Zone 2 |
Launch & crowd
| description | Sandy beach with ample space; information desk at Alohabeach |
|---|---|
| busy months |
|
| vibe | Popular lesson/freeride spot with several local kite schools (Wijkiki Kitesurfschool, Hooked Kiteboarding, Kiwi Kite) |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Wijk aan Zee / De HangOut Kitespot (windfinder.com, ~0 km) — Station is the spot itself (De HangOut Kitespot at Wijk aan Zee) but only reported for a short 20-month window (Jun 2021-Jan 2023) and is no longer live. Windfinder's own annual summary from that short record shows an implausibly low average speed (2 kn, gusts 3 kn) for a known kite beach - almost certainly an artefact of a short/gappy record rather than a real climatological average, so treat the annual speed figure as unreliable; the monthly dominant-direction pattern (N-dominant winter months, shifting W/SW by mid-to-late summer) is reported as-is but should be sanity-checked against a longer record if one becomes available. No monthly speed/Bft-probability numbers were extractable (JS-rendered chart).
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | — | N | — | — |
| Feb | —% | — | N | — | — |
| Mar | —% | — | N | — | — |
| Apr | —% | — | N | — | — |
| May | —% | — | N | — | — |
| Jun | —% | — | NNE | — | — |
| Jul | —% | — | W | — | — |
| Aug | —% | — | W | — | — |
| Sep | —% | — | WSW | — | — |
| Oct | —% | — | SSW | — | — |
| Nov | —% | — | W | — | — |
| Dec | —% | — | W | — | — |
Hazards
- Nearly constant strong current flowing south to north
- Zone 1 near the pier is off-limits to kiters (swimmers/surfers only)
Rules
- Kitesurfing only in Zone 2, marked by a pole near Aloha beach bar
- Park only in painted parking spaces - fines otherwise
Tips
- Check the beach webcams before heading out
- Best waves form behind the pier on SW wind days
Travel basics
| airport | AMS - Amsterdam Schiphol |
|---|---|
| getting there | Close to Amsterdam/IJmuiden |
| cost level | mid |
| no wind | Amsterdam is a short drive away |
Nearby: Zandvoort
Sources: kitesurfvereniging.nl