Six and a half kilometres of dam between two islands, with the North Sea on one side and the Grevelingen on the other, and it is worth slowing 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. That first look at the water from the top of the dune path tells you what the day holds.
Natural High says De Ooster, about 5 km offshore, takes some of the rough sea out of it.
65% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In March the wind most often sits at 8 to 11 kt (31% of daylight hours) and is over 12 kt from 2pm to 3pm and at 5pm on at least half the days. See both charts in the full report
No weather station near enough to check these figures against.
March on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days20 of 31Four Marches in the record
Wind, rideable hours17 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air9.2°CMaximum
Waves0.7 m11% of days run big
Take it with you
The full Brouwersdam report
Seven sections over six 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
WindChaser spot reportBrouwersdamZeeland, Netherlands · March65% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
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 March 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
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Launch
Hazard
Parking
School
Stay
Webcam
Approximate
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 MarchHoods, gloves and room to ride. The record finds rideable wind in every month of the year.
Getting aroundBy car on the N57The road runs along the dam. Free parking at the spot, and a bus stop at Port Zélande.
