Duhnen / Niedersachsen / Germany

Duhnen is located in the north of Germany near to the Danish border, looking out to the North Sea and is a popular tourist destination. It is also a great place for windsurfers and kitesurfers of all abilities. The season runs from April to November although off season is possible if you are fully suited and booted.

There is a large sandy beach with no obstacles on it and plenty of space for assembling and rigging. During the summer months, the beach gets packed with holiday makers on warm sunny days and kite surfing is forbidden from July 1^st through to August 31^st, so kiters need to go to the beach at Steinmarne. You can get here from Cuxhaven by following signs to Duhnen and then making your way to the beach, where you can park nearby.

The winds are mainly frontal westerlies with depressions and any force is possible, although wind speed averages at around 12 knots. The winds are best from fall to spring with summer winds being much lighter. The best wind directions for the area are west and north west. The water is clean and can be either flat or choppy depending on the wind strength and direction. The water temperature is around 15 degrees from fall to spring with a maximum of around 22 degrees in the summer. The air temperature hovers around 18 degrees from fall to spring and can rise as high as 30 degrees in the summer. The winter months are very cold.

There is very little here at the beach although Duhen has plenty of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars. If you are looking for night life, then head into Cuxhaven.

Kitesurfing is strictly forbidden from July 1^st to August 31^st.