Watersports
Watersports in Kijkduin
Kite, sail or paddle out: the coast around Kijkduin and the Sand Engine has room for all three, if you respect the current.
- Kitesurfing concentrates around and just outside the entrance to the Sand Engine's bay.
- Wave surfers tend to prefer the seaward north side of the Sand Engine, especially in south-westerly swell.
- Windsurfing is popular along the same stretch of coast.
- The tidal channel into the Sand Engine's bay carries real risk: read the safety notes before you go.
Where do people kitesurf near Kijkduin?
Kitesurfing around Kijkduin concentrates on the Sand Engine, just north of the district: mostly around the entrance to the bay and just outside it. This is the same artificial sand peninsula built in 2011 for coastal defence, now open to the public. It shares the same coastline as Kijkduin's own beach, a short walk further south.
Where's the best spot for wave surfing?
Wave surfers tend to prefer the seaward north side of the Sand Engine, particularly when the swell comes from the south-west. Windsurfing is popular along the same stretch of coast. Unlike the sheltered kitesurf zone at the bay entrance, this side faces open water, which is part of what generates surfable waves.
What should you know before you go out on the water?
As of 2026, swimming around the Sand Engine is permitted, but the tidal channel into its bay can develop a short, strong current on the incoming tide, capable of digging unexpectedly deep holes in the sand. Site manager Zuid-Hollands Landschap advises watching the weather and tide, and calling 112 if you get cut off by rising water.
Full detail on tides, the channel and current safety guidance is on the Sand Engine safety section. Check conditions with Zuid-Hollands Landschap before you launch, especially with children in the water.
What should experienced kitesurfers know about the current at the Sand Engine entrance?
Experienced kitesurfers launching near the Sand Engine's bay entrance should treat the tidal channel with respect: on the incoming tide it can develop a short, strong current that digs unexpectedly deep holes in the sandbank underfoot. This is the same channel flagged in the general safety guidance for the Sand Engine, not a separate hazard, but the current runs directly through the main kitesurf launch zone.