Depending on the wind direction, swell and tide the water can be anything from flat to choppy or with fairly large and clean waves (especially in fall and winter). A jetty next to this beach makes for clean waves when the wind comes from the Southwest, because it reduces chop made by wind. Waves can be up to 3m in high winds, but are usually irregular breakers due to the sandbars beneath. It is one of the better wavesurf spots in Holland though. Tide does play a role along the coast of Holland, but because of the jetty, this effect is also reduced.
Wijk aan Zee has one of the nicest beaches along the coast because it is wide: lots of space even on a hot summers day when most of the beaches are packed.
It can be anything at any time or season. Summer is usually nice with sun and temps of 17-25°C. But because of the sea climate there can also be rain and storms and low temps. Temps drop to beneath 10°C, and sometimes it freezes. Water temp is from 18°C in summer to as low as 6°C in winter. You almost always need a wetsuit and a thick one in winter plus hood and gloves. When the outside temp is above 12°C, which does happen in winter it can be fine though.
Southwest is the predominant direction. Nice winds with depressions, because there is hardly any stable wind (thermals) in summer. Fall and spring usually provides the best winds, but it can be unpredictable in storms. Winter actually has the most winds. Best directions: N, NE, SW and W. Sideshore NNE and SSW.
From Amsterdam follow the A9 to Beverwijk and when in Beverwijk follow the directions to Wijk aan Zee. In Wijk aan Zee (a small town) drive south along Corus (a steelmill) to a large parking space at the beginning of the jetty, and follow this foorpath (100 m) to the beach.
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