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Surf Forecast So, you really want to surf when it's on? Euranim Pay attention to these 2 maps of Europe and you will see where those swell blobs develop. If you want to surf at the end of this afternoon check the first map showing what is going on at 18:00 hours and check the date.. In Australia the size of the wave is measured at the back of the wave. In the Netherlands the face of the wave is measured. A 4 foot wave in Australia equals 2 meters in the Netherlands. These measurements are published by the navy and are a bit exaggerated.

Just to be sure the actual wave heights (golfhoogte) in meters shown at  www.actuelewaterdata.nl click link Golfhoogte.

Tip: If the swell comes from the north or north west and the waves have to travel a long distance waves are best.

International swell maps: www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/ click link WW3
International surf spots: www.wannasurf.com

Convert: 1 foot - 31 cm, 2 ft - 62 cm, 3 ft - 93 cm, 4 ft - 1,24 m, 5 ft - 1.55 m, 6 ft - 1.86 m, 7 ft - 2.17 m, 8 ft - 2.48 m, 9 ft - 2.79 m

I you want to know how the swell will develop this week take a look at the 2nd (animated) map. Check the start date and count the days starting from 00.00 hour at night. This (looping) map needs to be loaded first and shows you what's happening the next 5 days. Of course the 2nd day predictions are more accurate than 5th day.

Midday/evening: day 1 - 18 hrs, day 2 - 42 hrs, day 3 - 66 hrs, day 4 - 90 hrs, day 5 - 114 hrs

Virtual Bouys

Ok, there are waves but having a good surf with long rides and powerful, steep waves also depends on the wave period (the distance between waves). In the Netherlands waves are usually very mushy. To read the Buoys you will need to compare Swell with Period predictions.
If the Period number is higher then the Swell number it should be good.

Tip: Silence after the storm (Dutch expression). De wind starts disappearing, but the waves keep their kinetic energy. Waves are loosing their height, but  the swell period doesn't decrease that fast.

Windguru

Wind is essential. The Dutch coastline is stretched from the south west to the north east. With onshore winds waves will be blown out and the wave period will decrease. If there is no wind waves will peal nicely and predictable. Offshore winds are best. The wind will give additional pressure to the face of the wave and waves might become hollow. In the Netherlands days with onshore swell direction combined with offshore winds are rare and it will not last for a long time. (Take a day off when it happens) If it is not to windy with side shore winds the surf can be good. I would advise you surf next to a big jetty. There you will catch as little wind as possible. (For example Scheveningen harbor).

The Windguru website is very accurate but you need to look at the measurements the day before you go to the beach. Pay attention to the wind direction. Compare it with the wave direction and the topographic position of the surf spot.
Also the wave heights are mentioned on the site. You can compare them with the measurements on the other sites.

Tip: If you are on the surf spot with strong winds and the Windguru predicted the wind force should have dropped. I would advise you to wait a while before you paddle out. The wind force will decrease within an hour.

Convert: 1 beauford = 1-3 knots, 2 bft = 4-6 knots, 3 bft = 7-10 knots, 4 bft = 11-15 knots, 5 bft = 16-21 knots

Tide

The tide is also important. Look for the tide predictions on  www.getij.nl
It all depends on the constantly changing sandbars created by the tide. If you are surfing for 3 hours you notice waves are getting better or worst.

For example: In the Netherlands there are surf spots with jetties witch are submerged at high tide. These spots can be excellent at low tide when hollow waves are created on the sandbars between the jetties. With high tide it looks like big mess and you might hit a submerged jetty.
For information about where to surf and at what tide in the Netherlands click on these links. Spot list made by  Govert (Dutch) and www.wannasurf.com

Holland is not like Pipeline Hawaii! If you have ever surfed Tarnos or Mundaka? You will understand what I mean. Try to create a good atmosphere in the line-up.

This web cam shows you what's happening in Scheveningen at the moment. Have fun!