Zandvoort Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at our local stretch of coast. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. We've got a lot of days with poor surf conditions, but there's one standout session that's worth circling on the calendar.

Let's get into it. The water temperature is a notable 69°F at the start, which is about 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so you might not need the thickest wetsuit for the first session at Zandvoort.

The forecast kicks off with a real letdown. From Tuesday the 25th through to the end of August, it's a frustrating run of small, weak swell and poor conditions. The wave energy is minimal, with values often in the single digits (2 to 6) and the odd day barely hitting 90. Swell heights are tiny, generally under 1 feet, and the wind is mostly cross or onshore, creating choppy and messy surf. It's a tough stretch.

We get a bit of a pulse of energy moving into the first days of September, but it's still accompanied by strong, messy winds. From the 1st to the 5th, we see swell heights climbing to 5 feet to 6 feet, and the wave energy picks up to moderate levels (146 to 263). However, the wind is nearly always a fresh to strong cross-shore or cross-onshore, keeping the surf lumpy and blown out. It doesn't look great for the paddle, but the combination of that swell and the strong wind makes this setup look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Now, here's the one to get excited about. On Saturday, the 5th of September, the morning is looking promising. The wave energy is strong at 532, with a solid 7 foot swell pushing in from the WSW. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it's windswell, but the real story is the wind. It's forecast to be glassy, with only a slight air from the ESE. That means the surface will be clean and smooth. The swell direction matches the optimum for Zandvoort, and the size is solid for competent surfers, though at 7 feet it's getting a bit big for beginners. The score for this window is a 3, which is the highest we see in the whole 16-day outlook. This is easily the best on offer.

The rest of the 5th and the days that follow look like a return to messy conditions with onshore winds and lumpy surf, with the odd brief window of clean conditions. The wave energy stays moderate to strong (127 to 430) through the 8th, but the wind is the main issue. The 9th of September, Wednesday, sees a bit of a drop in energy.

So, to wrap it up, if you're looking to paddle out, your best bet is to hold out for the morning of Saturday the 5th of September. It's the only real standout in the whole forecast. The rest of the time, the conditions are poor, and the wind is winning. Don't expect much consistency for the next two weeks.

Rusty, signing off.

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