Grevelingendam — Grevelingenmeer
NetherlandsTide impact not yet confirmed at this spot. If in doubt, ask a local club before your first session.
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Discover Grevelingendam — Grevelingenmeer
The Grevelingendam separates two bodies of water: to the north the Grevelingenmeer, Western Europe's largest saltwater lake — flat, shallow, tide-free — and to the south the Oosterschelde, which is tidal. Flat water, you can stand far from shore, but the bottom is full of stones and shells: wear shoes.
The Grevelingendam is a Delta Works structure with two faces. To the north, the Grevelingenmeer — Western Europe's largest saltwater lake, flat and tide-free, shallow far from shore: freeride, freestyle and foil on mirror-smooth water. To the south, the Oosterschelde, which is tidal: around high water a lagoon forms, at low water the beach grows. The bottom and the shoreline are full of stones, mussels and oysters, so wear shoes, and on the lake side trees and bins make launching and landing awkward. The whole area is Natura 2000: on the north side there's a marked, seasonal kite zone with yellow buoys (15 March-1 November); Markenje island is closed year-round; and near the Flakkeese sluice, buoy lines flag a dangerous sluice current. Sea wind on your own shore works; an offshore wind that takes you out, doesn't.
Level and best time
The flat water and the big shallow zone (you can stand up to about 100-150 m out) make it great for sending it and for learning. Still, the NKV lists the north side (lake) as 'advanced' and the south side (Oosterschelde) as 'beginner': the real lessons happen on the sandy south side (notably Salt Kitesurfschool). Mind the stones/shells at the water's edge and the obstacles on land on the lake side (trees, bins) when launching and landing.
source : kitesurfvereniging.nl ↗It depends on the side. The lake (north) is tide-free (the level only swings between -35 and +15 cm NAP), so you can plan without worrying about tides. The south side (Oosterschelde) is mostly rideable around high water: a lagoon then forms where you can stand everywhere, but the beach shrinks. Best wind months: March-May and September-November. On the south side a southerly is offshore and gusty along the shore — count on at least 5 Beaufort.
source : nl.wikipedia.org ↗Arrival guide
The dam links Goeree-Overflakkee to Schouwen-Duiveland. On the north side the NKV lists free parking; the south side is 'unknown'. You walk over some stones to reach the water. The launch/landing area is tight: grass on the north side, sand on the south side.
source : kitesurfvereniging.nl ↗The Grevelingen is a Natura 2000 area. Per Rijkswaterstaat, kiting is only allowed on the north side of the dam, in the zone marked by yellow buoys, and only from 15 March to 1 November (closed the rest of the year for wintering birds); shallow-water zones and Markenje island are off-limits. The NKV-South side, on the other hand, lists 'year-round'. Two regimes, then — let the signs, the buoys and the spot manager decide on site.
source : rwsnatura2000.nl ↗Safety
On an inland body of water, 'offshore' depends on your launch shore: never ride in a wind that pushes you from your own bank out across the water. On the south side (Oosterschelde, the database point) that's the southerly — which there is also thin and gusty in the lee of the trees and the dam, so at least 5 Beaufort. When in doubt, pick the shore the wind brings you back to, not the one it carries you from.
source : kitesurfvereniging.nl ↗The shoreline and the bottom are full of stones and sharp shells (mussels/oysters) — always shoes. At the intake of the Flakkeese sluice in the dam, two buoy lines flag a dangerous sluice current: stay clear. On the south side (Oosterschelde) the tide matters: it's best around high water, after which the situation shifts — and the beach shrinks. On the north side (lake) the tide is negligible.
source : rwsnatura2000.nl ↗Soon, by the riders
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