We've all been there: the wind forecast looks good, but there's no time to get to the North Sea or Baltic Sea. That's why we'd like to introduce you to the two largest inland lakes in Lower Saxony, which are much quicker for many people to reach from the centre of Germany. The Dümmer and Steinhuder Meer are certainly no longer an insider tip. However, some people still look surprised when they are told that windsurfing is good here. And, of course, wingfoiling, foilsurfing, SUPing and kitesurfing on the Steinhuder Meer. To shed a little light on the subject and get you out on the water faster and more often, we present the two lakes. They are particularly suitable for freeriding, slalom heating and foiling.
The best windsurfing spots on the Dümmer
The Dümmer is located between Bremen and Osnabrück, and you can also get here within an hour from Bielefeld or Hanover. And the catchment area is large. Word has long since got around that this is a perfect spot for beginners and intermediates thanks to its shallow water depth of 1.5 metres maximum. The water quickly becomes pleasantly warm in spring. Even water sports enthusiasts who actually have the North Sea as their home spot like to come here, as it is known to warm up less quickly.
The few trees around the lake ensure that the wind has enough headway. You only have to make friends with the Dümmer choppy wave when the westerly wind is flat. But it's not just the locals who say that no choppy wave in the world will shock you if you can surf here.
The downer is certainly the ban on winter navigation. The Dümmer is closed to everyone from 1 November to 31 March for nature conservation reasons. The only exceptions are ice sailing and other winter sports, as long as the ice holds. If Easter falls before 31 March, the green light for all water sports enthusiasts is given again from Maundy Thursday. There are several nature reserves on the entire lake, which are marked by buoys. No water sports enthusiasts are allowed behind the buoys.
1st Hüde
The heart of the surfing scene beats on the eastern shore in Hüde. The Dümmersee surf centre there has a well-stocked shop and a windsurfing school. Even those travelling without equipment don't have to be left high and dry. The surf centre has a hire shop with the latest equipment and has surf, wing and SUP equipment for everyone from beginners to pros. (surfschool-duemmersee.de)
Paid parking is available right by the water - so there's no need to lug your equipment around. There is plenty of space to rig up on the large meadow at the surfing centre and three ramps provide easy access to the water. On windy days, it can get crowded on land, but on the water, things calm down, as the Dümmer is the second largest inland lake in Lower Saxony with an area of twelve square kilometres.
If you want to learn to windsurf, you can do so in one of the courses. Courses also run during the week in the holiday season. Thanks to the aforementioned standing depth, the spot is perfect for younger children or students who still feel insecure in deep water.
2. lembruch
There is also a small surfing community in Lembruch, also on the eastern shore. The sandy beach creates a real holiday feeling. If you are willing to walk a few metres, this is also a wonderful spot.
On north and south wind days that come in sideshore in Lembruch, both spots work excellently. The north wind often builds up wonderfully consistently from midday and blows into the night. Working people in particular, who can only get out on the water after work, are delighted! Southerly winds are just as pleasant, usually a little warmer and often with a slight westerly breeze, so that they come diagonally onshore. A dream for everyone: good, constant wind and flat water. You can often see surfing students who have just completed their course coming off the water on days like this with big grins on their faces. The easterly wind is offshore and gusty, but usually guarantees flat water. The only thing everyone can do without is the tedious back-crossing. It's a good thing that the lake is shallow, because one or two people have already completed the "walk of shame" with their gear in tow.
In addition to the winter driving ban, the nature conservation areas are no-go zones in summer."
Depending on the wind strength, every water sports enthusiast gets their money's worth. With SUP or pedal boat, with the wing and windfoil or large fin material on light wind days through to wave material, everything can be ridden here. There may not be a wave to ride, but it's always good enough for a bump and jump. If the wind blows at force seven or more, forward loops have already been seen here. In spring, foiling masts of over 100 centimetres can be ridden without any problems, but the water depth decreases towards summer. Only real locals are advised to go out on the water with masts longer than about 70 centimetres. Too many have already fallen victim to the numerous sandbanks. Wingfoilers get their money's worth all year round with 60-centimetre masts. If you don't have one in your repertoire, you can easily hire one from the surf centre. There may be a little more water in the pond in late autumn if it rains enough, but it's always worth calling the surf school to make sure. Seaweed used to be a problem on the Dümmer in previous years, but not in recent years.
If you don't surf here, it's your own fault, but you have plenty of alternatives to choose from. There are various routes around the lake, either by bike or on foot. Only inline skates are not recommended - apart from the touristy eastern shore, the paths are mainly paved but gravelled. The shortest route around the lake is just under 18 kilometres long. This can be extended to any length, as many other (cycle) hiking trails lead through the Dümmerland, into the Stemweder Berge etc. You can also play mini golf, relax in one of the beach bars, top up your energy levels in one of the many restaurants or simply enjoy nature.
Camping and accommodation at the Dümmer
There is a campsite in Hüde right by the water, which also belongs to the surf school. There has been a renovated wash house and electricity since 2025, as well as the option to dispose of grey water, and it's quite inexpensive and surfer-friendly. It is about 250 metres to the water, the cost per night depends on the size of the vehicle and the number of people. The current price list is available at: surfschool-duemmersee.de
Water sports enthusiasts who are self-sufficient can stay right by the water in the paid surf car park. Then it's just 50 metres to the water. Literally from bed to board. However, there are no sanitary facilities here. There are various campsites in Lembruch, but mainly for permanent campers.
There is accommodation around the Dümmer for every need, from small holiday flats to flats in the newly built Marissa holiday park. You can find all the information you need here: duemmer.de
The Dümmer is not just something for the "small appetite in between" - as the many campsites prove.
The best windsurfing spots on the Steinhuder Meer
Steinhuder Meer is located to the west of Hanover and is the largest lake in Lower Saxony. At 29 square kilometres, it is more than twice the size of the Dümmer. The navigation ban applies here in the same way as on the Dümmer, but for a few days less: from 31 October to 20 March. Within the designated area at the Mardorf surfing beach, the season runs until 15 November. As there are surf schools and spots on the Steinhuder Meer in both Mardorf in the north-west and Steinhude in the south-east, it is possible to get your money's worth in any wind direction.
The best wind conditions prevail at the "Stein", as the locals call it, in spring and autumn. The hotspot and the spot with the best infrastructure is the Mardorf surf beach, where winds from all directions except from the north, which blows completely offshore, promise the best conditions. The most consistent winds are from the south, which often blow constantly until late in the evening (SW, SE). The wind forces are often between three and four Beaufort, with westerly winds often at five Beaufort, sometimes even higher on good days. Northerly winds are generally unfavourable due to the windbreaks. If you can't stand it on the beach, you have to go quite far out from Mardorf beach and then cross back.
The Steinhuder Meer is largely a standing area, becoming deeper towards the centre with occasional shallows. These conditions also make this inland lake the perfect spot to complete a windsurfing or windsurfing course or to take your skills to the next level. The two surf schools - one in Mardorf and one in Steinhude - are the perfect contacts here. At the beginning, you stay on the shore in the standing area, while intermediates quickly learn how to start in the water in the deeper areas.
If you want to foil, you can do this with a mast up to 100 centimetres, but you should know where. A maximum mast length of 85 centimetres is recommended, which works quite reliably with enough distance from the shore. To warm up, take a short walk into the water until the required depth is reached. After long dry and hot periods, the water level can be lower and foiling can become difficult even with a short mast. If you don't want to buy a new mast straight away, you can contact one of the two surf schools. Seaweed is hardly a problem on the whole of the Steinhuder Meer, at most there are small patches in summer.
In good conditions, the proximity to the city of Hanover is noticeable in the well-filled car parks.
In many places there are large patches of mud on the bottom, and in the Ostenmeer you can also see the proximity to the moor. In some places, the mud reaches just below the surface of the water. This ensures that there are areas where there are no waves regardless of the wind strength, creating fantastic speed runs. On the rest of the lake, there is a moderate bump & jump wave when the wind is strong.
Throughout the Steinhuder Meer, buoys mark nature conservation and bathing areas where water sports enthusiasts are not allowed. Occasionally, the water police are out and about here, grabbing surfers in prohibited areas or kiters outside the designated kite zone in the north. There are also signs indicating, for example, desilting pipes; harbour entrances and exits are also taboo for water sports enthusiasts. Entry points: There are four explicitly designated surfing entry points.
1st Mardorf beach
There is a charge for parking here, but it is possible to park well and quite close to the spot, although a buggy is helpful if you have your own equipment. Camper vans can also park here. If it gets very busy, the Strandhotel opens up another car park. There is a meadow and a sandy beach in Mardorf for rigging, with a view of the water, the right-hand part is more for surfers and the left-hand part for kiters, but in the end everyone can set up wherever they want. The beach hotel also caters for your physical well-being, with sanitary facilities that can be used free of charge. You can also treat yourself to an aftersurf drink or a snack in the beach bar. Best wind direction: SW, SE. All other wind directions are good with the exception of northerly winds. As it stays flat for quite a long time in Mardorf, the area is ideal for beginners and intermediates. A weed fin is advantageous in the area enclosed here in summer.
Surf school: Ralf Madert has been running "Surfer's Paradise" in Mardorf for over 30 years. In addition to training on Mardorf beach, there is an extensive catering offer in a relaxed beach bar atmosphere and accommodation in the surf hostel. There are also pitches for campers. Whole school classes are also welcome here with Ralf and his 19 employees. There are surf and foil courses for all skill levels as well as a shop where you can browse to your heart's content. You can fortify yourself with specialities and snacks in the bistro or relax on the sunbathing lawn! (surfers-p.de)
2nd Steinhuder beach terraces
There are good car parking facilities here, but these are subject to a charge. Depending on how early you arrive, you may have to walk a little further to the water. There is a spacious meadow for rigging up. Access is possible via the promenade jetty, which can be a little challenging; it is particularly helpful to have a helper on the beach when landing.
However, the beach terraces are also very crowded with tourists in good weather - relatives can watch from the long jetties with benches and enjoy a coffee in one of the many catering options. The aforementioned mud creates speed slopes here, which definitely make up for the parking fee and the long walk to the water.
4. surf school Fun&Wave
This is located in Steinhude near the bathing island. There are windsurfing, foil, SUP and sailing courses for all skill levels, so everyone is catered for. Equipment can also be hired here, with various options to choose from depending on the duration. The entrance is usually a little muddy, unless the water has just been cleared of mud.
Parking is possible very close to the water, but there are few parking spaces and regular controls (limited by parking discs). It is best to unload and then park in the car park in Hermann-Löns-Weg. Changing facilities are available after consultation with the surf school. In principle, all wind directions work at this spot. As Steinhude is on the southern shore, it is better here with a northerly wind, southerly winds come slightly offshore, so it is rideable.
3rd bathing island on the south beach
Windsurfing is only permitted on the bathing island outside the bathing season from 20 March to 15 May and from 16 September to 31 October. The sandy beach and meadow are very well equipped, but a buggy is really helpful here. The car parks are subject to a charge and are rare - you should also have some small change to hand. It's the perfect place to start foiling, as it's the shortest way from here until it gets deeper. Any wind direction works here, south wind is better than on the beach terraces, as the island is a little further east and further into the sea. Therefore, the wind cover is not so important. When we were there, the beach was being desilted, so it was not possible to get in - but there are plenty of alternatives.
So there are plenty of spots where water sports enthusiasts can get out on the water with their equipment. The decision whether to use a fin, foil, wing or SUP is up to you, depending on the wind strength and your preferences. If you are staying longer and are looking for a change on windless days or are "just" the company of a water sports enthusiast, the Steinhuder Meer and its surroundings are also ideal for cycling tours, hikes and the like. The sea can also be explored by canoe, pedalo or electric boat or on a boat tour with the Steinhuder passenger boat service.
Camping and accommodation at Steinhuder Meer
There are various campsites and accommodation in Mardorf, Steinhude and around the lake. We recommend taking a look at the Steinhuder Meer website (steinhuder-meer.de), here everyone will find the perfect accommodation for their very own needs. Mardorf offers wavecult-lifestyle.de a wide range of leisure activities on the beach and surf-style accommodation in the beach hotel.
