Surfing in the Dutch capital: Plans submitted for wave pool in Amsterdam
Peter de Kievith / Shutterstock.com
By Simone Jacobs
Entrepreneurs in Amsterdam have submitted plans to open a wave pool in the Dutch capital, offering city residents the opportunity to surf on a canal. If the plans are approved, surf enthusiasts could ride the waves as early as 2029.
Amsterdam surf district proposed for Buiksloterham
The municipality put out a call for ideas for the newly developed area around the Johan van Hasseltkanaal in Amsterdam Noord. Amsterdammers and surf enthusiasts Jaap Kersten and Paul Brouwer submitted their idea for a wave pool for residents to vote on.
Under the plans, the wave pool would have artificially produced waves that vary in size, perfect for every level of surfing. There would also be a green recreational zone where residents can grab a bite to eat or a refreshing drink on a terrace while watching the surfers. A swimming area would also be included.
Kersten and Brouwer dream of expanding their idea into a surf district by collaborating with surf brand New Amsterdam Surf Association, Skatecafe, surf training institute Surfance and architects Space & Matter. “We envision a place where people can live, do sports and do business,” they told Het Parool. “Think of surfboard makers, surf, skate and snowboard clothing stores, catering and a training institute.”
Amsterdam could have wave pool by 2029
The entrepreneurs came up with the idea while waiting for their children to finish school. "For good surfing you have to travel at least to the South of France, which makes it out of reach for many people. With a wave pool in the middle of the city we can give many more Amsterdammers the chance to discover this sport."
When they first came up with the plan, they scoured the city for ideal locations but couldn’t find the right fit until the municipality opened calls for ideas. “We spent hours hanging over Google Maps until we had 7 potential locations,” said Kersten. “The Johan van Hasseltkanaal has always been number one.”
In July last year, Rotterdam opened a surfing centre, rif010, which costs a pretty penny: 50 euros per surfing session. The Amsterdammers hope to make it more accessible to all residents, including children, with sponsors and other initiatives.
Whether the wave pool will become a reality will only be confirmed in 2026 at the earliest, when the concept plan is presented.
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more