Pays-Bas
Petten Strand, located on the northern coast of North Holland, is a long sandy beach exposed to ocean winds. It is a spot favored by local riders for its generous space and consistent conditions in small to medium waves.
In front of the village, the beach is narrower, but it quickly widens to the north, offering good areas for launching. Breakwaters spaced every 100 meters mark the area.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with few crowds even in windy season, ideal for progressing in wave without pressure.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
wavewavePetten Strand works well with winds from SW, W, NW, N, S, which are side-shore or side-on relative to the northwest-oriented beach, generating a choppy water surface with small waves. The riding area extends in front of the sandy beach, narrower near the village but wide to the north where space is optimal for maneuvers.
Launching is done directly from the fine sandy beach, with a medium-sized take-off area, facilitated by the frequent cross-shore wind. The breakwaters every 100 meters create calm zones between them, perfect for take-off, but one must ride wide to avoid shore break waves. Independent of tides, the spot offers a consistent water surface, although more windy in winter.
In side-off conditions (dominant W-NW), the waves remain small (1-2 ft typical), ideal for hybrid freestyle-wave. Beware of gusts in onshore (S-SW), which make the water surface more chaotic but still rideable with a kite.
Ideal conditions are with side-shore winds from NW to W at 20-25 kts, combined with a small north-west swell for rideable waves without excessive chaos.
The water surface is typically choppy with small waves (1-2 ft), due to north-west swells and cross-shore winds. Good quality at all tides, with left and right waves at the beach break.
Currents are moderate with possible rips in case of swell, especially near the breakwaters. Tides have little influence on the spot, but check the schedules to anticipate any local strengthening.
Opt for sizes of 9 to 11 m² in medium winds of 20 kts, dropping to 7-9 m² in gusts of 25-30 kts. In light sessions (15 kts), go up to 12 m².
The wind regime is dominated by W and NW winds, cross-shore to offshore, with strengths reaching 20-30 kts in winter. No specific local name, but Atlantic depressions bring reliable and consistent wind, particularly from October to April.
Winds from SW and S are more onshore, increasing the chop, while N and NW provide the best side-shore waves.
The coastal climate of Petten is cool and windy, with air temperatures between 0-15°C from September to April, and 15-30°C from May to August. The best months for kiting are January, February, March, April, and December, with consistent wind and short but intense days.
From September to December, the weather is often cloudy or rainy, especially when the wind picks up, but sessions remain doable with a good wetsuit.
The depth is gradual with a completely sandy bottom, foot possible far from the shore depending on the tide. No critical shallow areas.
The water is icy in winter at 0-6°C (December-January), requiring a 5/4 mm wetsuit, hood, gloves, and booties. It rises to 15-20°C from May to August with a shorty.
