Dutch Surfers Fined By Police And Banned From Surfing Secret Spot

“The cops were pretty pissed off, and also pretty confused. They said, ‘Why would you surf there? That’s crazy.' Then they gave us each a €200 ticket.”

That was Simon de Roode, a qualified surf instructor and sponsored shredder. He had been keeping an eye on the wave since he had seen it break a year ago, albeit on the wrong tide and in smaller conditions. There is only one spot on the coast to surf, so any other potential locations produce extreme levels of froth, even for surfers known as some of the frothiest on the planet.

This week, when an Atlantic storm tracked more west than usual and provided a strong pulse of swell and howling winds, he decided to head back to a spot in the harbour that was protected with his mate Seger De Bekker.

“It was a crazy wave right next to the wall, and so much fun. We had an epic half hour of waves, until we saw the flashing lights and then the cops,” said de Roode. “They were shouting, waving, and calling us in. Then they gave us the ticket.”

The pair was fined for entering a forbidden swim area, even though part of the wave broke into the legal swimming area. De Roode did, however, provide a bit of context. In May 2020, five young, experienced surfers drowned at Scheveningen due to a freak mix of high winds and a thick wall of sea foam. He said the authorities have been extra vigilant when it comes to surfers entering the water in stormy conditions ever since.

“I get that, but we were totally capable and absolutely safe,” said De Roode. “This is a wave that breaks once a year, if that. Sadly, the cops said it will remain illegal. Those waves may be the last ever ridden at the spot.”