What it's actually like

Six and a half kilometres of dam between two islands, with the North Sea on one side and the Grevelingen on the other, and I still slow down on the dam road to look at both. The sea side is the kite beach: wide sand, shallow water a long way out, and on a windy weekend a sky so full of kites that you pick your gap before you launch.

The lake side is salt water behind the dam, out of the North Sea swell and quieter, and it belongs to the windsurfers and the sailing school. I've taught and ridden here every season, and that first look at the water from the top of the dune path still gets me.

Natural High says De Ooster, about 5 km offshore, takes some of the rough sea out of it.

Your month

When it's good

12 kt+ for 3+ daylight hours · kite

January · 62%. 19 rideable days in 31, 7.2 hours a day over 12 kt. Come.

At a glance

Is it for you?

Skill levelGetting there

WaterBit of chop

Wind · JanUsually turns up

Crowds · JanRoom to ride

Local vibeFriendly enough

Water qualityUsually clean

NightlifeA bar or two

CostMid

Geek analysis

January in the record

62% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

Where the wind sits

Share of daylight hours in each speed band. Blue clears the bar.

4–79

8–1129

12–1536

16–1921

20–235

24–270

28–310

When in the day

The trades are a clock. A dawn session is a different spot.

8am

9

10

11

12pm

1pm

2

3

4

5

6pm

January on the record

The month's own figures, not the year's average.

Rideable days19 of 31Worst 3 in 1997, best 24 in 2007

Strongest gust67Kt

Air5.7°CMaximum

Waves1.1 m39% of days run big

Record 1940 to 2026Normals 1991 to 2020Open-Meteo, CERRA

Take it with you

The full Brouwersdam report

Eight sections over six to eight pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.

01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Full stays, schools & kit04Per-launch tide windows05Sandbanks, sluice & closed zones06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits

Three free reports with an account, then premium.

When it gets busy

Crowds

Feb · Low

Busy from May to September, when the schools are teaching and the holiday season is on. November to February it is hoods, gloves and room to ride, and some schools close for the winter.

On the water

What January usually does

Wind directionSW to N, via WThe safe directions the Dutch kitesurf association lists for the main beach. Winds from east round to south blow offshore.

Wind strength12 kt and upThe record counts a day from 12 kt. Winter storms have gusted past 60 kt, so when a front is due, size down early.

When it blowsSunrise to sunsetThe local bylaws ban kitesurfing and windsurfing after dark. Winter days are short, so make the most of the light.

Your playground

Launches & safety

Local intel

Getting there & on the ground

Nearest airportRotterdam The Hague (RTM)About 46 km in a straight line. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and Brussels (BRU) are the bigger hubs.

On the groundOctober to MarchThe windiest months in the record, and February is the pick.

Getting aroundBy car on the N57The road runs along the dam. Free parking at the spot, and a bus stop at Port Zélande.

Stay, schools & kit

Who works this beach

Natural HighSchoolKite · WingKite, kitefoil and wingfoil lessons, based on the main beach. Kite lessons booked all year.Photo: Natural High Beachclub via Google

Kiteschool BrouwersdamSchoolKiteKite lessons from a first introduction to private coaching, on the main beach.Photo: Kiteschool Brouwersdam via Google

KBC BrouwersdamSchoolKite · WingMobile station based at De Hoge Blok, Noordwelle. Teaches from late March to 1 November.Photo: KBC Brouwersdam - Kiteschule & Wingfoilschule - Kitesurf & Wingfoil, Verleih und Camps via Google

Brouwersdam SurfschoolSchoolWindsurfWindsurf and windfoil courses at the Zeil- en Surfcentrum on the lake side.Photo: Zeil- & Surfcentrum Brouwersdam via Google

Did I miss something out?Send it straight to me. I wrote this page.