Zandvoort Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this outlook for Zandvoort is a tough one. We’ve got a 16-day window ahead, but the first week-plus is pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. There’s a big gap in quality from now until about the 23rd of September.

The whole forecast is dominated by messy conditions. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than what’s normal for this time of year, so it’s not uncomfortable, but that’s about the only silver lining.

For the first stretch, from the 12th right through to the 22nd, it’s a mix of poor surf, onshore or cross-shore winds, and lumpy, choppy water. Swell energy is weak to moderate, with values mostly under 100 – a few days around the 18th and 19th push into the low 100s, but that’s just building to a bigger, messier 7ft+ on the 19th with a fresh cross-shore blowing at 22 mph. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than something to paddle out in. Even when we get a few half-decent swell pulses, the quality comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.”

The first real standout – and I use the term carefully – shows up on Wednesday the 24th of September in the afternoon. It’s not perfect, but it’s the first time we see a clean look. The wind swings to the east at 12 mph, giving us a cross-off breeze. Swell is from the NW at 7ft with a period of 8 seconds. Wave energy jumps to 503, so there’s some punch. That size and period is better suited for experienced surfers, not beginners. At Zandvoort, a beach break, a short-period NW swell can be a bit wonky, but the clean conditions make it the best on offer.

The true highlight, though, is Friday the 25th of September in the morning. This is the pick of the whole window. We’ve got light offshore wind from the ESE at just 6 mph – that’s glassy, clean conditions. Swell is a solid 6ft from the NW with a period of 8 seconds. Combined energy is 446 – solid moderate energy. For a sandbar break like Zandvoort, that’s proper size. It’s not for beginners (over 5ft), but for anyone with some experience, it’s the best chance for a clean, fun session. The crowds at Zandvoort are sometimes an issue, so get in early.

After that, it fades fast. By the 26th and 27th, we’re back to tiny, weak swell and poor winds.

So, to sum it up: don’t bother paddling out until the 24th. Your window is the 24th afternoon and, most importantly, the morning of the 25th. After that, it’s back to the waiting game. Forecasts can change, but this run looks pretty poor overall.

Rusty.

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