Kite Spot
Netherlands · Zélande
Neeltje Jans is a kitesurfing spot located on the artificial island of the Oosterscheldedam dam in Zeeland, Netherlands. Formerly used for the construction of the dikes protecting the area from the sea, it offers a wide beach with plenty of space to set up your gear.
The spot is accessible after a 10 to 15-minute walk from the parking lot under the bridge near the lock. It is a popular place for local kite schools due to its variable conditions depending on the tides and its often side onshore wind.
Less crowded than other Dutch spots, it mainly attracts experienced riders when the wind picks up, with a view of the Oosterschelde and large ships.
Historical averages by month — not a live forecast.
The Neeltje Jans spot works well with winds from W, NW, N, NE, E, often side onshore or side-on which makes returning to the beach easier. At low tide, the water is calm and quite flat, ideal for progression, with a very wide beach and standing for a good while. At high tide, be careful of the shorebreak which makes the beach narrow and the launch more technical.
The navigation area extends between the piers, with a weak current due to the proximity of the dike and locks. Launching is done directly from the wide beach at low tide, but you need to aim for areas without crowds of bathers in season. Take-off is easy on the generous beach space, perfect for schools like Kitesurfschool Zeeland that park their bus there.
Local feature: huge tidal range, up to several meters, which completely changes the spot. In strong wind 30-40 kts, it’s a spectacle with waves and high jumps, but reserved for experts. Free parking under the lock, then a 700m walk taking 15 minutes according to sources.
Sources :kitesurfschoolzeeland.nl · 35knots.com · vertigo-sports.com · letskite.fr
Open Windguru forecast