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Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands

Stay in Wijk aan Zee: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Wijk aan Zee

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About Wijk aan Zee

Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces NW, so wind from the SE blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.

Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing NW. Wind from the NW blows onshore, wind from the SE blows out to sea, and wind from the NE or SW runs along the shore. It is exposed to the open sea. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 2.2 km out (1 in 217). The sea is about 7°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 19°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For kitesurfing at beginner level the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Wijk aan Zee. Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots and 3 wind sports spots.

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Book the trip

From Chicago: about 13 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), direct. About 14 flights a week that month.

    See flights ORD → AMS · Skyscanner from about £410 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 45 min from the airport to Wijk aan Zee.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in Wijk aan ZeeAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Kitesurfing lessons in Wijk aan Zee · GetYourGuideAdKite and board hire in Wijk aan Zee · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Wijk aan Zee on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Live webcam

Webcam IJmuiden, 3 km away

Open the webcam on portofamsterdam.com

Webcams belong to their owners.

Forecast

Best on Thu 22: 18 kn gusting 36, side-onshore.

The score for kite, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Sun 18Oct024kncross-off–
Mon 19Oct019knoffnot safe–
Tue 20Oct024knoffnot safe–
Wed 21Oct4026knside–
Thu 22Oct5336knside-on–
Fri 23Oct042kncross-off–
Sat 24Oct037knside-on–
Sun 25Oct2731knside-on–
Mon 26Oct042knside–
Tue 27Oct4026knside–

Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.

The season

Good kite days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan2of 7
  2. Feb2of 7
  3. Mar2of 7
  4. Apr2of 7
  5. May2of 7
  6. Jun2of 7
  7. Jul2of 7
  8. Aug2of 7
  9. Sep2of 7
  10. Oct2of 7
  11. Nov2of 7
  12. Dec2of 7

Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for kite. Change dates

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight ORD to AMS, then 45 min by road. About 13h 30 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 18 kn gusting 24, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Kite Wijk aan Zee

    16 kn gusting 26, side-shore.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Kite Wijk aan Zee

    18 kn gusting 36, side-onshore.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 32 kn gusting 42, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 26 kn gusting 37, side-onshore.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight ORD to AMS, then 45 min by road. About 13h 30 door to door

Rough cost

About £805–£1,545 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.

  • Flights £410–£845
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Taxi £40–£65
  • Stay £165–£280
  • Food £155–£290

Places to eat near Wijk aan Zee

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Kitesurfing lessons · GetYourGuide Kite and board hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.