Kitesurfing Makkum
Makkum (IJsselmeer), on the IJsselmeer. The wind right now, the best moment today, the tide and what kind of spot it is.
SpotIJsselmeerUpdated 2026-09-26
Today at Makkum
The whole week hour by hour, with the kite size for your weight.
01Which wind direction works at Makkum
Wind from the west-southwest blows straight onto the beach. Safe is wind from south (169°) through west-southwest to north-northwest (339°).
- 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 169° to 185° and 325° to 339°: good to ride, but you do not drift back by yourself; stay close to the shore.
- Offshore 339° to 169°: 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 Makkum is
Only 1 October to 1 MayShallow inside the baySuitable for beginnersFresh waterLots of windsurfers
| Water | Fresh water. Flat water inside the bay. Watch out for the many windsurfers. They do not always look out for kiters. |
|---|---|
| Depth | Shallow inside the bay. About 200 metres from the shore it is still shallow. Outside the bay it gradually gets deep. You only need deep-water experience if you go outside the bay. |
| Bottom and beach | Sandy beach. Little room to launch and land the kite. With a westerly wind you cannot launch or land on the beach in the kite zone. Then go into the water, or launch your kite from the water (drift launch). |
| Zones | You may only kite from 1 October to 1 May. In summer kiting is banned here. Only launch and land in the kite zone: the north-western part of the beach. The kite zone is not marked with yellow buoys. Northern boundary: the Makkum-Kornwerderzand channel, marked with red and green buoys. Do not cross it; beyond it lies a nature reserve. Southern boundary: Beach Resort Makkum. No boundary is marked on the west side. Even so, you may not simply go far out onto the IJsselmeer. Kites do not belong on the rest of the beach or at the boulevard. People swim there. An enforcement officer (BOA) carries out regular checks. Watch out for obstacles around the water and keep your distance from them. |
| Level | Suitable for beginners, because of the shallow water. Outside the bay suitable for advanced kiters and foiling. |
| Parking and facilities | Large free car park behind the pyramid of Camping Holle Poarte. Paid parking is available at beach hotel Strandhuys. From the car park you walk a fair way along a small canal to the spot. Food, drinks and toilet available. There are places to eat and drink on the beach. |
Rules and zones change: always read the signs on the beach.
03Is it better somewhere nearby
Within 60 km, 12 knots or more right now, from a direction that is safe there.
04Makkum on the map
05The spot at a glance
| Spot | Makkum (IJsselmeer) |
|---|---|
| Region | IJsselmeer |
| Type of spot | beach |
| Wind straight onshore | west-southwest (254°) |
| Safe wind range | from south (169°) through west-southwest to north-northwest (339°) |
| Location | 53.05312, 5.376227 on the map |