A hidden gem for windsurfing in Friesland, the Netherlands: Tjeukemeer spot guide – a windsurfing spot in the shadow of the classics
Chris Hafer
· 27.08.2026
*The Magnificent Seven* is a classic Western from 1960, starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson, in which seven hired guns help a small Mexican village fight for its freedom and independence against marauding gangs. The surf spots in Friesland are also brilliant; they fly a bit under the radar and aren’t as well known as the spots near Hindeloopen, Stavoren or Makkum on the IJsselmeer. There are definitely more than just these surf spots, and far more than seven in number, but then again, the number seven also features on the flag of Friesland. It bears a total of seven stripes in white and blue.
Alongside these are seven red hearts, symbolising the union of seven Frisian provinces. Although the hearts are actually meant to represent water lilies, they are all symbols of the Frisians’ struggle for freedom and independence around the year 1000 AD. Even older are many of the lakes that lie in the flat landscape and are referred to by the locals as the ‘Frisian Seas’. It is worth noting here that you should never refer to a Frisian as a Dutchman – not that we haven’t warned you of the consequences that might ensue.
Obvious, but in the blind spot
The IJsselmeer is just as much of a classic amongst windsurfers as the film mentioned at the start: almost everyone knows the spots along the eastern shore, most of which are beginner-friendly. But if you ask about the Tjeukemeer, you’ll mostly be met with puzzled looks – hardly anyone has heard of it. Yet it’s actually not that easy to miss, as it is the largest of the Frisian inland seas, known as Tsjûkemar in Frisian. And by ‘large’, we mean a body of water covering around 22 square kilometres – larger than the Dümmer, for example, and almost as big as the Steinhuder Meer.
It’s actually quite astonishing that such a large body of water isn’t clearly visible on the map, especially for windsurfers. Particularly as the motorway runs right past the Tjeukemeer and, to the west, even crosses it via one of the few remaining motorway bascule bridges. The Tjeukemeer has existed since the last Ice Age and was expanded through peat extraction, which is also the source of its brownish colour. It used to be just one of many lakes in this already water-rich region, until, from 1957 onwards, a collaboration between the province of Friesland and the relevant local authorities specifically developed it for water sports. Obstacles in and under the water were largely removed, whilst two artificial islands were created to provide free mooring spaces for boats. Nevertheless, with its broad belts of reeds, it remains a very natural place.
I discovered the Tjeukemeer more by chance about 20 years ago, when races were being held there as part of the Dutch regatta series, and at the time I was absolutely amazed at what a hidden gem of a spot lay there. Even after all these years, nothing has changed. The journey to the spot in Rohel in the north still takes you through sleepy little villages along narrow roads. You pass small churches and old cemeteries, which were built on ‘warften’ – small mounds in the otherwise flat landscape – to ensure the graves were safe from flooding. The gables of the imposing farmhouses still feature the typical Frisian gable decorations with curved swan necks, the exact meaning of which remains unclear to this day. The car park at the spot is empty even on a Saturday morning; apart from us, only one other surfer is setting up on the meadow. My surfing mate Daniel, who’s here for the first time, can’t close his mouth in amazement. Admittedly, the entry point looks just like our local village pond. The only things missing are ducks… or swans, perhaps. Maybe that’s the reason for the local gable decorations?
Depending on the wind direction, leaving the launch area via an approximately three-metre-wide access channel with a sheet pile wall made of planks can seem like a challenge at first glance. But on closer inspection, you realise that you can also set off on foot – that is, push your equipment through the channel into the open area before you set off. From there, there are virtually no further obstacles.
Out there, we initially have the whole sea to ourselves; on the horizon, we see a contrasting scene of small churches and the gables adorned with swan motifs, or the motorway bridge to the west, with traffic flowing past. But even as more windsurfers and wingfoilers join us as the day goes on, it still feels uncrowded given the vast expanse of water. The sun is shining, the wind is more than strong enough – contrary to the forecast – and the spot is perfect for taking short breaks to have a natter; a relaxed day’s surfing could hardly be better. Especially when it ends with a hearty portion of chips and fresh kibbeling.
1. Rohel
52.9117, 5.8074
The facilities are excellent: a large, free car park, toilets, a mobile chip shop at weekends during the season, a grassy area for setting up your board, a children’s playground and areas sheltered from the wind by trees and bushes for non-surfing companions. To protect the birdlife and the reed-covered banks, please use only the official entry and exit points.
Due to the peaty environment, the water is rather brown and opaque brackish water. The maximum water depth is 2.2 metres! This means that almost the entire sea (apart from the marked shipping channels) is a shallow area suitable for standing! Usually around hip- to chest-deep, you can swim in all directions with plenty of space, even using longer fins, without fear of being thrown off balance. Contrary to what one might expect given the colour of the water, the seabed is predominantly firm sand and free of stones, as most of the boulders were removed when the decision was made to prepare the sea for water sports. Only in a few places can you see small sandbanks or tufts of grass protruding from the water. You should keep just as far away from these as from the nets attached to poles, mainly in the reed-lined areas along the shore.
The entrance area looks just like our local village pond, but out there there’s plenty of space in every direction.
In principle, the spot works in all wind directions; only when the wind is blowing directly from the north is there an offshore current at the launch site. An alternative in that case is a smaller, less well-developed beach on the south side (Delfstrahuizen) or the IJsselmeer itself. The Tjeukemeer is particularly well suited to easterly winds – when the wind is blowing offshore in Makkum and the surrounding area, it’s the perfect alternative spot. The wind blows unimpeded onto the water, especially as the surrounding land lies slightly lower than the water’s surface – three cheers for Dutch hydraulic engineering.
Tjeukemeer Spot Information
Wind, weather and wetsuit recommendations
In Friesland, good windsurfing conditions usually require a low-pressure system moving eastwards from the Atlantic. Consequently, particularly in spring and autumn, the likelihood of catching a low-pressure system is higher than in summer. In summer, stable easterly winds can prevail, which makes the Tjeukemeer a particularly good alternative to the offshore winds on the eastern side of the IJsselmeer. Air and water temperatures average 17–18 degrees in summer, so a short-sleeved wetsuit or a 4/3 long-sleeved wetsuit is sufficient. Anyone heading out early or late in the year, or who happens to catch a proper low-pressure system, should bring a 5/3 long-sleeved wetsuit. Footwear is also recommended, as you cannot see where you are stepping in the murky water. Due to its relatively shallow depth, the water temperature of the Tjeukemeer adapts more quickly to the air temperature than, for example, the open North Sea. This is an advantage in spring but a disadvantage in autumn. On the other hand, the large shallow areas offer a certain degree of comfort and safety, particularly in low temperatures. It’s easy to climb back out without having to swim a long way, and it’s almost impossible to drift away.
Accommodation & Camping
In the Netherlands, wild camping is generally prohibited and can also be expensive, with fines of up to €100. That’s not the only reason why it’s worth heading to one of the numerous campsites, whether large or small. Or why not rent a holiday home or flat straight away, often right by the spot? Here’s a small selection:
- Camping Tjeukemeer: Situated right by the spot, small but correspondingly quiet: campingpaviljoentjeukemeer.nl
- Jantina Hoeve Mini Campsite: Located five minutes from the surf spot; a cosy little campsite on a farm: jantinahoeve.nl/de
- Holiday flats: In addition to the usual platforms, these can be found at: holiday-cottage-friesland.frl
Surf schools & shops
You won’t find any surf schools or shops at the Tjeukemeer; for that, you’ll need to head to the eastern side of the IJsselmeer, which isn’t particularly far away. There are surf schools and surf shops at almost every spot there, and the facilities are more than adequate. You can also hire equipment or SUP boards at almost every spot there.
- Makkum: Funsport Makkum: funsportmakkum.nl; Surf Makkum: surf-makkum.com/de
- Workum: Core 'n More Surfshop: corenmore.nl; Soalsurfenbeach: kitefactory.surf
- Hindeloopen: Gearfreak NL: gearfreak.nl
Downsides & Risks
Apart from the narrow entry point and the shallow areas in the north-east (to the left as seen from the spot), where you can see grass sticking out of the water, we can’t think of any downsides. Right in the middle of the entry pool, the bottom is a bit muddy. It’s advisable to walk along the edges towards the exit when leaving the ‘harbour’ on foot. In late autumn, the water level is sometimes artificially lowered by 20–30 cm to protect the dykes from damage during storms. The clearly marked navigation channels are all a little further out, and traffic is generally not particularly heavy or fast, so with a bit of care you won’t have any problems there either.
Alternative programme
The flat surrounding countryside, with its excellent network of cycle paths, is ideal for cycling tours. Those who can’t bear to be away from the water should set off on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) to explore the countless canals and waterways. It’s also easy to cycle from one place to another. It’s no coincidence that, weather permitting, the 11-City Tour takes place here in winter, passing along the canals which are then frozen over.
Leeuwarden, situated slightly to the north-east, is an old university town offering plenty of charm and nightlife. Workum, Makkum, Hindeloopen and Stavoren, as former trading towns with direct access to the North Sea trade routes, still give a glimpse of the prosperity of bygone days with their picture-perfect houses and, alongside many small shops, offer a wide range of restaurants.
We particularly recommend the De Koebrug restaurant and whisky bar for cooler days (dekoebrug.nl) in Stavoren. There, almost anyone is bound to find a warming tipple from the bar’s extensive selection and feel as though they’re in Scotland for a moment. The nearest town with restaurants and a bustling marina in the old town centre is Lemmer, a hub for water sports in Friesland – also well worth a visit for fresh fish or kibbeling at the harbour.