Kitesurfing IJmuiden
IJmuiden Kennemerstrand, on the North Holland coast. The wind right now, the best moment today, the tide and what kind of spot it is.
SpotNorth Holland coastUpdated 2026-09-20
The whole week hour by hour, with the kite size for your weight.
01Which wind direction works at IJmuiden
Wind from the west-southwest blows straight onto the beach. Safe is wind from south (171°) through west-southwest to north-northwest (341°).
- Side-onshore 185° to 235° and 275° to 325°: the best angle: you ride back and forth easily and the wind pushes you back to the sand.
- Straight onshore 235° to 275°: safe, you always wash up on the beach, but getting away from the shore takes effort.
- Side-shore 171° to 185° and 325° to 341°: good to ride, but you do not drift back by yourself; stay close to the shore.
- Offshore 341° to 171°: the wind blows you out to sea; Kitewind does not count these hours as a session.
Everything outside that is offshore: the wind blows you out to sea. Why that is the biggest risk.
02What kind of spot IJmuiden is
Zone 1 all year roundZone 2 banned50 metres from the pierSlopes gentlyPaid parking
| Water | North Sea with waves. The pier can break the waves. |
|---|---|
| Depth | The beach slopes gently, you can stand a good way out into the sea. |
| Bottom and beach | Wide sandy beach with quite a few shells and plenty of room. |
| Obstacles | Stay at least 50 metres from the pier. |
| Current | Thanks to the pier there is not too much current. Zone 3 usually has more current. |
| Zones | You may kite all year round in zone 1, from the Zuidpier up to and including beach pavilion Makai Beach, and in zone 3 at IJmuiderslag. You may not kite in zone 2 in between. Poles on the beach mark the zones. |
| Level | Zone 3 is for experienced kiters. |
| Parking and facilities | Paid parking on a large car park at the beach access. Beach pavilions and kite schools. |
Rules and zones change: always read the signs on the beach.
03Tide and current
Tide: Rijkswaterstaat, station IJgeul Stroommeetpaal 1. Current: station IJgeul Stroommeetpaal 1. Not including the surge from wind.
04Is it better somewhere nearby
Within 60 km, 12 knots or more right now, from a direction that is safe there.
05IJmuiden on the map
06The spot at a glance
| Spot | IJmuiden Kennemerstrand |
|---|---|
| Region | North Holland coast |
| Type of spot | beach |
| Wind straight onshore | west-southwest (256°) |
| Safe wind range | from south (171°) through west-southwest to north-northwest (341°) |
| Location | 52.4571, 4.5503 on the map |