Map›Netherlands›Workum – Makkum, IJsselmeerNetherlands
External renown — how known this place is in the kite world. Not a quality rating.
The feel of the place
The essentials before the detail
When to come
Apr
Every spot here is in season then
Number = how many of the 3 spots are in season that month.
Windiest modelled month
February · 17.2 kt · Makkum
The month the wind model rates highest; the season above is when riders and schools go.
the month's average wind in February at Makkum, the strongest month any spot here models
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. What it holds here is the month's average wind, month by month; it does not count how many days carry a three-hour window at 12 kt.
What it costs
mid (Western European pricing)
Schools
10
in the directory
Permits & rules
3 spots
with rules of their own for permits, zoning or the bathing season, on the spot cards
Good to know before you go 2
Makkum is a freshwater bay on the Friesland side of the IJsselmeer, just below the Afsluitdijk, and the rule matters more than the water: kiting is allowed only from October through April and prohibited the rest of the year.
Workum sits on the IJsselmeer at It Soal, just outside the town, and it is the Friesland spot most Dutch riders learn on.
Medemblik (Nesbos) is the official IJsselmeer kite zone at Vooroever Nesbos, just outside Medemblik in West-Friesland, and what makes it worth the drive is the direction: it works on north and east wind, the days when most Dutch North Sea beaches are offshore and useless.
10 in the directory
KiteMobile
VDWSKNWV
Doeslessons · rental · kitecamps · camp · accommodation
RidesWorkum · Makkum
SpeaksDutch · German · English
kitemobile.nl
Learn2kite with Mink
IKO
Doeslessons · rental · foil · camp
RidesWorkum · Makkum
SpeaksEnglish · Dutch
learn2kite.nl
Like2Kite
VDWS
Doeslessons · rental · kids courses · camp · accommodation
RidesWorkum
SpeaksGerman · English · Dutch
like2kite.com
Sky High Kitesurfschool
IKO
Doeslessons · rental · kitecamps · wingfoil · kids courses · camp
RidesWorkum · Makkum
SpeaksDutch · English · German
skyhigh.surf
Soal Surf
IKOWatersportverbond
Doeslessons · rental · foil · wing · shop
RidesWorkum
SpeaksDutch · English
soalsurf.nl
NorthWest Kiteboarding
VDWSWatersportverbond
Doeslessons · foil · wing · camp
RidesMakkum
SpeaksDutch · English · German
northwestkiteboarding.com
Surf N Sail Makkum
VDWS
Doeslessons · rental · wing · shop
RidesMakkum
SpeaksDutch · English · German
surf-makkum.com
KiteFEEL Surfcenter
VDWS
Doeslessons · rental · storage · accommodation · camp · foil
RidesMedemblik (Nesbos)
SpeaksDutch · English
kitefeel.nl
1 shop
ShopOnline shopRepair
A 1,400 m2 kite and watersports megastore in Workum formed from the merger of two established local shops, Soal Surf and Core 'n More, stocking all the major kite brands with its own repair service.
Suderséleane 7, 8711 GX Workum
+31 8 50045745kitefactory.surf
As of 2026
Type the carrier you are flying: what it charges for a kite bag, and the year of the policy that says so.
Checked so far for Netherlands:KLM
Every carrier, with limits and what riders report at the counter →
8 recurring claims
The tag says how far the riders who mention it agree; the figure is how many mention it.
Workum is loved because the shallow shelf is long, but that same ease pulls in schools, beginners and crowds.
consensus5 riders
Rules are not background noise here; zones, buoys, swimmer areas and protected nature areas shape where riders can actually launch and ride.
consensus5 riders
Makkum's kite beach is only open Oct 1 - May 1 (closed in summer)
strong2 riders
Kitesurfing is permitted year-round at Hindeloopen, Mirns and Workum, and additionally at Lemmer, Stavoren and Makkum in winter
strong2 riders
Makkum is a good learner memory for some riders, but the legal season and launch rules are the first thing to check.
majority4 riders
The water changes fast after the shelf: easy flat water near shore, then the familiar short IJsselmeer chop outside.
majority3 riders
This is better as a progression base than a guaranteed one-week kite holiday; riders still say Dutch wind can make you wait.
majority3 riders
Workum has ~100m of shallow water good for beginners, with a sandbar creating 5m-deep water behind it, and can get crowded
mixed1 rider
Skûtsjesilen traditional boat races (August)
When is best to kite Workum/Makkum?
This is largely a shoulder-season and winter spot - Makkum in particular is not a year-round destination - while summer sees the lakes fill with sailing and boating traffic instead.
Is it good for beginners?
Yes - both Makkum and Workum have shallow, flat, protected freshwater bays that schools use for lessons, with deeper water further out for advanced riders and foiling.
Do I need a car?
A car is recommended for moving gear between the two spots and nearby towns, though train plus bike is workable for a lighter trip.
Where should I base myself?
Workum, one of Friesland's historic cities, sits right by the kite shelf; Makkum is a smaller, quieter pottery town near the Afsluitdijk; Sneek or Leeuwarden offer more restaurants and nightlife if wanted.
Which direction works at Medemblik?
Medemblik (Nesbos) is valued for working on northerly and easterly winds, useful on days when many Dutch North Sea spots are offshore and unsafe.
Scores out of 10, compared with other places. The data figure under each label is how much of this record that score had to work from, so a high score on thin data is a thin score.
A paler bar was scored from less than half of the record.
Nothing here carries a figure for affordability, so every line above is built without it.
Things we could not verify. If you have ridden here, you can help.
Last updated: 4 September 2026
