When you think of surfing, you quickly think of a tropical destination, beaches with palm trees and sun-tanned surfers braving the high waves. But surf spots like Hawaii are certainly not the only places in the world where surfing is popular. There is also a real surfing culture in less tropical destinations such as Denmark. In this article we therefore share the best surfing spots along the northwest coast of Denmark.

Although Denmark also has nice warm summers, the average climate here is certainly not tropical. The sea water is therefore never really warm, especially outside the summer season when the temperature of the water is even very cold. Surfing here is therefore also known for cold water surfing. Still, it doesn’t stop surfers from catching some waves. The Danish northwest coast is extremely suitable for surfing and is even mentioned by some as one of the places in Europe with the best waves. The Danish coastline is therefore also called Cold Hawaii and is popular among wave surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers alike.

The best surf spots in Cold Hawaii, Denmark

Cold Hawaii is the coastal area northwest of Denmark. Between the seaside resorts of Agger and Hanstholm you will find more than 30 surf spots here, which are suitable for different surfing levels and different ways of surfing (wave surfing, windsurfing & kitesurfing) due to their location and environment. A big advantage of Cold Hawaii is that you can drive here from Utrecht in about 10 hours. That makes this European surf spot also suitable for a weekend away. The best time to surf here is in the winter from November to March when the chance of ‘swell’ is greatest. Swell is weather conditions at sea – such as a storm – that cause strong winds that create large waves. The best time to surf here is therefore in the winter, but also in the summer, spring and autumn there are plenty of days with good waves. In any case, keep in mind that the sea water is quite cold all year round and can even become dangerously cold outside the summer season. After all, the area is not called Cold Hawaii for nothing. With a seawater temperature of sometimes only a few degrees above 0, surfing here is a big challenge. So make sure you have a (winter) wetsuit and never go surfing alone in the winter.

As mentioned, you will find more than 30 surf spots in the coastal area northwest of Denmark. These are mainly located around the following 3 well-known surfing environments of Cold Hawaii:

#1 Klitmoller
Klitmøller used to be a small fishing village, but due to the strong wind and high waves, the town located in the northwest of Jutland has become one of Europe’s most important surfing destinations. The waves here are high and clean. This is due to the meeting of two seas. Klitmøller is also the basis of the term Cold Hawaii. That is why you will find several place name signs and shops in the village that use the term. Some well-known surf spots near Klitmøller are Bunkers, Klitmøller Reef, Inside Reef, Point Perfect, Tolderstien, Krovej and Bunkers Beach.

#2 Norre Vorupør
Nørre Vorupør is a coastal town located in the North Jutland region, south of the aforementioned Klitmøller. The place is located on the North Sea in the middle of Thy National Park, Denmark’s first national park. Nørre Vorupør is not only a well-known surf spot, but also a well-known fishing village. On the beach you can see the coastal boats and push barges, which are pulled to the mooring place with winches. These boats are mainly used for sea fishing. Nørre Vorupør is popular with both local and foreign surfers and beginners as well as more advanced surfers. The Cold Hawaii Big Air games are also held here in September, where kite surfers from all over the world participate. Some well-known surf spots near Nørre Vorupør are Vorupor Bay, Small Pier, Big Pier and South Side.

#3 Agger
Cold Hawaii’s last known surfing environment is the coastal and fishing village of Agger. Agger beach is a wide sandy beach and, like Nørre Vorupør, is part of Thy National Park. To the south, the beach turns into a bird sanctuary, while to the north you will find the lakes, moors and dune plantations of Thy National Park. Agger beach is a vast sandy beach and therefore there is always a place to surf in the right weather conditions. A number of well-known surf spots near Agger are the wide sandy beach of Agger, Agger Big Pier and Agger Channel.

Are you planning to surf in Denmark and would you like to keep an eye on the surfing conditions so that you can catch the best waves? Then check the website of Surf-Forecast.com