Surfing Netherland's North Sea: Ed Asselé on Dutch Waves, Surf Photography, and Lifelong Stoke

Tucked along the windswept shores of the North Sea, where cold water, shifting sandbars, and relentless wind swell shape a uniquely gritty surf culture, you’ll find Ed Asselé, a lifelong ocean lover whose story is as much about dedication as it is about discovery. From his early days volunteering as a lifeguard on the Dutch coast to chasing waves across continents, Ed’s surfing journey evolved over decades, guided by curiosity, travel, and a deep-rooted connection to the sea. Now retired and based near Rotterdam, Ed has blended his passion for surfing with surf photography, documenting the often-overlooked beauty of Dutch waves and the tight-knit community that rides them. His perspective offers a reminder that surfing isn’t defined by perfect conditions, but by the people, places, and purpose you find along the way.

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Q. Can you briefly introduce yourself, where you’re from, and what you do for a living?

Ed - My name is Ed Asselé, I'm 65 years old and I retired five years ago. Before that, I spent most of my time working in IT for energy companies. I was born in Rotterdam and now live in Dordrecht, which is about a 50-minute drive from the North Sea.

Q. What drew you to surfing, and how does surfing in the North Sea compare to other spots you've traveled to? What's unique about the waves and conditions in Holland?

Ed - From a young age, my father took me to the beach at Hoek van Holland on summer weekends, where he was a volunteer lifeguard commander. That's how my first love for the sea was born. When I was old enough, I also became a volunteer lifeguard at the Maasvlakte beach for over 30 years. Back then (the 70s, 80s, and 90s), we participated in lifeguard competitions. Although some people were already surfing in the Netherlands in the 70s and 80s, I had no idea.

In the 90s, my wife and I went on many vacations outside Europe and discovered surfing's popularity in places like Bali and Australia. I made a few failed attempts at surfing by renting a board that was much too small. I also bought a bodyboard in the Netherlands around that time. In 1999, I took a surfing lesson in Bali, and upon returning to the Netherlands, I bought my first longboard.

It's good to know that swells in the Atlantic Ocean that reach Portugal, Spain, France, England, and Ireland never reach the Netherlands due to England's location. However, we do have an open connection to the ocean on the northern side of the North Sea. Moreover, the North Sea is quite shallow. We have two types of surf in the Netherlands. We have a lot of wind swell, for example, from local southwest/south winds. This can create quite good waves, especially if you have the protection of a harbor breakwater. 

Personally, I think the best surf comes from northern swells that form at the top of the North Sea or further north. Serious swells can be pumped into the North Sea from the north, but the shallow North Sea significantly reduces wave height. For me, the difference with ocean beaches is that the ocean often offers longer rides and more space to paddle out.

Q. Photography seems like a natural extension of your surfing sessions. How did you get into surf photography?

Ed - When I started surfing in the Netherlands, I wanted to avoid driving to the beach for nothing. So before and after my session, I took photos and noted wave height, wave direction, wind direction, and so on. Around the same time, I was also experimenting with websites. To make that more meaningful, I started a surf photography website. I've continued with this, and it still gives me a lot of pleasure and I get a lot of positive feedback. I still take photos before and after my own session and post them on social media and my website.

Q. How does being in or near the ocean, whether surfing or taking photos, affect your mood and overall well-being?

Ed - A good surf session always gives me a lot of positive energy. Especially when I was still working, it was even essential. After a good surf session, you feel ready to take on the world again. A good surf photo also gets me excited, especially if I can make others happy with it.

In what ways have surfing, photography, and travel shaped you personally? Have they opened up new perspectives, friendships, or ways of seeing the world that you might not have discovered otherwise?

During my working years, surfing changed my perspective on my work. I tried to schedule my surfing, and therefore also to restructure my work. Surfing also brought me a whole new circle of like-minded friends. Traveling also changed. I take trips with my surfing buddies that are purely about surfing. My wife Marja and I love to travel and see the world, and since I started surfing, we always try to schedule beach time. Surfing allows me to visit places we wouldn't otherwise go to. Plus, you connect with locals more easily than when traveling as a non-surfing tourist.

Q. What is the Holland surf community like, and how have you been impacted by it?

Ed - The Dutch surfing community has exploded in the last 10 years. There's a core group of surfers who have known each other for years. Nowadays, every beach town has at least one surf school. Lineups at popular spots are overcrowded. My home spot, for example, is located on the edge of a reclaimed land full of industry. The beach is hardcore—no showers, no restaurants, no trendy beach bars, no wind protection. Under certain conditions today, it's the best spot in the Netherlands. Then the parking lots are overflowing, cars are double-parked, and so on. That was different 20 years ago. Perhaps I'm to blame for that myself by publishing my photos. 

There are also a lot of new, young, talented surfers these days who make me enthusiastic to continue taking photos. The level of surfing in the Netherlands is constantly improving. Surfing in the Netherlands has also become increasingly professional in recent years, and a Dutch team is represented us at international competitions.

It's amazing to see how stoked Dutch surfers can be about waves that surfers in other countries wouldn't even thinking about surfing.

Q. You’ve traveled to so many incredible surf destinations. What’s been your favorite place so far, and why? Where’s next on your list to travel?

Ed - I've surfed on every continent, but my favorite region remains Hossegor and its surroundings in September/October. Almost always good waves and T-shirt weather. Plus, you can be in Spain within half an hour, for example, to find shelter in one of the many bays or to eat pintxos in San Sebastian or Bilbao. Currently, I'm traveling through Vietnam and China with my wife for two months. The focus isn't on surfing then, but of course I do try to fit in a few days of surfing. Although that's a bit disappointing at Da Nang Beach right now.

Q. Can you share one of your favorite photos (or a story behind it) from a North Sea session, and what makes it special to you?

Ed - I took this photo (01.jpg) in early March 2018. One of the best days I've ever experienced on the Maasvlakte beach. A cold northeasterly wind blew for days, making it feel like it was well below 0 degrees Celsius. In the photo, from left to right: Roy van Eijk, one of the best Dutch surfers, in the brown barrel; Tobias van Tellingen, our Dutch surfer for over 20 years; and Frank Hodde, a Maasvlakte surfer from the very beginning, with whom I've surfed countless times in France. 

Q. What advice or recommendations would you give to anyone traveling to Holland to surf in the North Sea and experience the local culture? 

Ed - That's a tough one. There's almost never a week of good surf. At most, two or three days in a row. My advice would be to go in September/October. The temperature is still reasonable then, and the surf can be good. Fortunately, we now have an alternative: RIF010. We recently got our own wave pool. It's not as big as the well-known wave pools, but what makes it unique is that it's in the center of Rotterdam. This way, you can always surf in the Netherlands 😀 

To experience the surfing culture, I recommend a visit to Scheveningen beach, the "surfing capital of the Netherlands." It's the most popular surfing beach in the Netherlands, with many shops, schools, and activities.

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Follow along Ed's journey here

See more of Ed's photography here