Day rhythm
05:18
22:02
16.7h of daylight — 05:18 → 22:02
Ijmuiden — Zee
Partial dataNetherlands
Ijmuiden — Zee is a kitesurf spot with choppy water, medium depth, with no significant tide, in Netherlands. Ideal between 15 and 32 knots, May to September.
Level
Intermediate
Optimal wind
15-32 kts
Season
May to September
Today's tide
↗ Rising tide· coef 53
00h06h12h18h24h
⚠ Tide impact here
Range 1.5-2 m. Canal mouth: variable currents to watch.
Comfort & gear
Air
11°C
mild
Water
17°C
mild
Wetsuit
4/3 mm
fullsuit
Sky
100%
overcast
7-day forecast
Tap a slot for a detailed forecast.
What riders experienced here
No validations for this spot yet.
Weather risk
No risk
2% chance of rain
The spot
Discover Ijmuiden — Zee
IJmuiden sits at the mouth of the North Sea Canal, sheltered by the big Zuidpier. The pier breaks some of the waves and the current: the water is flatter and you can stand up to about 200 m from shore. But you kite right next to a busy shipping channel — and an easterly off the land? Pack it up.
IJmuiden is the North Sea spot near Amsterdam, in the shadow of the big Zuidpier of the locks. A wide, gently sloping beach: the pier breaks some of the waves and current, the water is flatter and you can stand up to about 200 m from shore — nice for learning under supervision in a moderate sea wind. But the spot borders a busy shipping channel, and at high tide it can still turn into a washing machine with waves and current, with rip channels pulling towards the sea. The danger, then, isn't the sea wind but the offshore easterly, the ship traffic and the tide. Velsen municipality and the IJRB run designated watersports zones; in high season (1 April-1 October), kiting is banned in some of the zones. Follow the marking on the beach and give swimmers priority.
Who & when
Level and best time
Who it's for
The pier makes the spot more accessible: flatter water, plenty of room. A beginner can come here with supervision 'as long as you've done your first metres on flat water', especially in a northwesterly. But don't bank on permanent flat: at high tide it can turn into a washing machine with waves and current, and then it's more for advanced riders. Disciplines: foil, freeride, freestyle, waves.
source : kitesurfvereniging.nl ↗Best time
The sector that works: from north through west to south (the half-moon around the pier), with northwest the most accessible. An easterly off the land is forbidden ground. There's no fixed tide window: at high tide there are more often waves and current. Watch for rip channels (the current always pulls towards the sea). Outside high season there's more room (see zones).
source : kitesurfvereniging.nl ↗On site
Arrival guide
Access & parking
Beach at the Kennemerstrand (Velsen municipality), with two sectors: right next to the Zuidpier and its extension towards IJmuiderslag. Paid parking (first half-hour often free, day rate around €10 per external sources — confirm on site), cheaper on weekdays in winter. Bus stop about 20 minutes away.
source : kitespot.nl ↗Club, schools & rescue
KZVV is the local watersports club, with gear lockers (24/7 badge access), an outdoor shower, changing room and canteen. Schools: APEX Adventures (near the Hightide pavilion), Wind4Water, Leerkitesurfen. In summer the IJmuiden rescue brigade (IJRB) watches the beach; swimming and sport zones are kept separate, and swimmers always have priority.
source : kitesurfvereniging.nl ↗Before you go
Safety
Offshore wind & ship traffic
Only kite in an onshore (sea) wind. An offshore easterly quickly drifts you out to sea, with wind and current against you on the way back — don't do it. And crucially: it's forbidden to ride in the shipping channel; keep well clear of incoming ships. Kiting is allowed between the wooden poles and the pier; stay at least 50 m from the pier and at least three times your line length from obstacles.
source : ijrb.nl ↗Zones, tide & rips
Kiting on IJmuiden's beaches is only allowed in the designated watersports zones; in high season (1 April-1 October) kiting is banned in some zones, more open off-season. Zone numbering varies between sources — the marking (flags/signs) on the beach is the reference. At high tide, waves and current; in a rip the current always pulls towards the sea: let it carry you, don't fight it. Swimmers have priority.
source : ijrb.nl ↗Community
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Session reports (wind, tide, water state near the pier)
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