De Haan / West Flanders / Belgium

This is a very well set up spot that has excellent facilities.  The conditions here are good for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, and all ability levels are welcome. 

The beach is sandy, and its size depends on the state of the tide.  It can also get busy between June and August, so beginners should watch out then as space is limited and there may lots of families around.  Water temperatures can reach 23C in summer, so a shorty is probably enough, but for the rest of the year you will definitely need a wetsuit or even a drysuit. 

You get a good long season here, with good winds found from April to November.  They blow from the north, west and northwest, and can be up to 25 knots on the stronger days.  Water conditions vary a lot between low and high tide, and wind strength.  Low tide typically sees choppy water, high tide provides waves up to 3m high, and between the two you’ll find a large area of flat water. 

This spot has everything.  There is plenty of room to park, and if you want to spend some time here you can camp or book a room.  There are toilets and showers, and a shop which provides gear for sale and rental, and there’s even a repair service.  Several places sell food and drink, and there is a school for anyone who wants lessons.

There are rescue teams patrolling the beach if you get into trouble, but that’s fairly unlikely unless you go out in conditions that are beyond your abilities.  High tide can have a strong current, and there are often boat and swimmers in the water too.