Spot Check: Workum (Netherlands) 2020 – All you need to know

Workum is one of the most visited kite spots in the Netherlands. Especially the shallow water and the beautiful beach make this spot a very special one. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the kitespot Workum.

Directions and parking facilities

The approach to the Kite Spot Workum is very easy, either use the following map or orientate yourself at Camping It Soal. It Soal is located directly at the kite spot and offers a great opportunity to camp right next to the water.
But also for kiters who don’t want to camp there, it is taken care of. Right next to the entrance of the campsite there is a large parking lot where you can park for free. In full summer days it can happen that it is completely occupied, but usually you will always find a place. There are only a few meters between the parking lot and the beach.

Take-off and landing zone

Before the actual start & landing zone at the kite spot in Workum there is a meadow where you can set up and take down your kite. So you don’t have to build up on the conchy/sandy ground and keep your material sand-free and intact.
After the assembly on the meadow, right next to the different kite schools, you have about 100m to the water. As this spot is also very popular, you will almost always find someone to help you with launching. But you are not allowed to start everywhere. The signs on the beach tell you exactly where the kite zone begins and ends. So it is not only important to be careful with the bathers in the water, but also on the beach.

On the water and wind direction

The spot goes with wind from north over west to south. If the wind blows from all eastern directions, the wind comes offshore and overland, then you should look for another spot. There are plenty of these on the Ijsselmeer.
The weather conditions are similar to the North Sea coast and can change quickly and drastically, but due to the location of the Ijsselmeer, the wind usually arrives at the spot a bit weaker.
The windiest months are the winter months from November to January, but it is also the coldest. In the warm months from May to September the probability of wind >= 4 wind force is between 60 & 70 percent.

Wind & Weather

The water in the advertised kite zone is shallow with a slight capstan wave. There is a marked swim zone just to the left of the entrance, which must be avoided at all costs. The further you go to the sandbank further out, the shallower it gets. The surfers among us find their fun behind the sandbank. Here small to medium sized waves arrive and the water is much deeper. On the right side (when you are standing on the beach) the spot is limited by traps. There the water is especially smooth and there is a bit more wind when the wind blows from the west. The left side is bordered by a headland and a channel with a fairway in front of it. Here you should pay attention to the shipping traffic.
Because the Ijsselmeer has only controlled access to the North Sea, the water is almost free of salt. From a geographical point of view it is not a sea, but an artificial lake. So even after the water bath you will not have an unpleasant taste of salt in your mouth, as you know it from the North Sea.

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