It all started back in 7th grade at the Daltonschool St. Jozef in Lemmer. Our teacher Hilko told us that the Dutch Wadden Islands are among the most beautiful nature reserves in Europe. He taught us a simple mnemonic to remember the order of the islands: TV-TAS – Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog.

When we launched KiteActive in 2011 and organized our very first downwinders in Brazil, we quickly got hooked. Adventure-filled trips packed with action and wind — we wanted to do more of them, all over the world. One of our very first journeys was a sailing trip along the Wadden Islands aboard the traditional clipper Manna with skipper Roel. Together with the participants, we explored the most beautiful kitesurf spots of the Wadden Islands. The beauty of the Wadden Sea and its unique kitesurf locations captivated us instantly. Since then, we’ve organized multiple Wadden trips every year. During one of those weekends, a wild idea was born: to downwind the entire TV-TAS chain with a kite!

Pro kiter Roderick Pijls has been closely involved with KiteActive since the very beginning. He guided many of our trips, and from 2020 onwards, he became increasingly active in the organization. When I shared my plan for a TV-TAS downwinder with him, he didn’t hesitate for a second. Action! Roderick immediately dove into the logistics, permits, safety, and route planning. By 2022, the event was finally ready to go live on our website. Within 24 hours the trip sold out completely — a first for us. Our customer service, led by AJ, was overwhelmed with emails, WhatsApps, and phone calls: “Is there still a spot left?” With more than 400 people on the waiting list, we realized we had something truly special.

But having a cool idea is one thing — making it happen is the real challenge. In our sport, it all depends on the right conditions. For this trip we needed very specific circumstances: a steady west-northwest wind of force 5 to 6, ideally for two days in a row. With just three possible weekends in September, we knew we’d also need a solid dose of luck. Fortunately, September and October are known for their first autumn storms.

During our Wadden weekend in early September, we checked the forecasts. A strong NW wind of 7 Beaufort appeared on the radar. Excitement grew — these might be the perfect conditions for our long-awaited trip. It almost felt as if the weather gods approved of our plan. But soon it became clear that it would be too intense to run the trip safely. We decided not to set sail that weekend — a tough but ultimately wise decision. Instead, part of the KiteActive team decided to ride a section of the route, to better get to know the area and train. (Want to read more about that? Check our blog!)

The second weekend quickly showed no wind. But the third weekend… it suddenly looked amazing. A clean west-northwest wind, force 6 — exactly what we needed! We could hardly believe it.

Every day we checked the forecast a hundred times. You live for it: will the wind drop? Will it return? Will it shift direction? We had to be absolutely sure — after all, there’s a lot of logistics involved. Luckily, we could rely on the accurate forecasts from Tobias at Weer.nl. Two perfect days of west-northwest wind. We were ready.

Originally, we planned to start at the northern tip of Texel, but major delays were predicted on the ferry. Fortunately, we found a quick solution: we moved the start to Den Helder. And so, DEN’ TV-TAS was born.

Saturday, October 1st, 2022

Finally, the big day had arrived. After a restless night with a storm raging over the Netherlands, rain hammering against the windows, and a few nightmares, the KiteActive team left Lemmer at 07:30. When we reached the Afsluitdijk, we noticed the storm had completely died down, and the wind was much lighter than predicted. Arriving in Den Helder, 33 riders stood waiting in their wetsuits, full of anticipation, with adrenaline buzzing through the air. These are what we call the classic kitesurfing jitters.

After a briefing from our team, assigning buddies, and handing out SafeTRX watches, the group set off — with Felix leading at the front and Thomas guarding the back like a true sweep. You can compare our team’s role to that of a pack of sheepdogs: keeping the group together, setting the pace, and making sure no accidents happened.

Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that our online briefing and repeated warnings about the difficulty of this journey hadn’t been enough to prepare everyone for the required level. The first two riders dropped out already in Den Helder, followed by another one on Texel. Sadly, they couldn’t complete the trip.

Because we lost so much time in the beginning, we started with a delay. Pressure mounted — we had to continue with the group that could handle it. Arriving at the Razende Bol, we quickly waved at the seals and carried on to Texel. Huge waves rolled in here, but luckily everyone played it safe. No room for mistakes — we wanted to rack up kilometers! However, due to struggles at the back, the front and rear groups drifted too far apart. At Paal 17, we had to wait a long time to reconnect. Luckily, we were well taken care of there with food bars and water. After Jelle Hak and Klaas Einte Adema kited 7 kilometers back to help the rear group, we rejoined and continued together — but by then we had lost over 2 hours. The pace had to pick up, and the message was clear: we needed to make it to Vlieland.

From there, we finally managed to push the tempo, cruising past the Slufter — a stunning lagoon on Texel. We reached Cocksdorp in half an hour and spotted the Vliehors in the distance. Between the islands, the Nautical Team of Fryslân was stationed. Experienced skippers Walter van Berkum and Joris de Wit, long-time friends from the traditional Dutch sailing fleet, had been asked to secure the crossings with a RIB. Perhaps an even greater challenge than being on a kite: as a kitesurfer you’re flexible in almost any condition, but a RIB in towering waves, sandbanks, and currents is another story. These men truly risked their lives to guarantee our safety — and in my opinion, that deserves a standing ovation!

What we underestimated was the amount of time we had already lost — and with it, the water. The tide had gone out, which meant that the Vliehors (also known as the Sahara of Fryslân, a massive sandbank at the tip of Vlieland) was now largely dry. Suddenly, instead of a smooth downwinder, we had to sail a heavy upwinder to get around this sandbank. As we approached Vlieland, huge rollers came crashing in from the North Sea, forcing everyone to carefully think about their direction. A few riders made the mistake of drifting too far downwind during the crossing, which cost them dearly, as they then had to fight even harder against the wind to get back. Following the lines of our team was absolutely crucial during this passage.

By the time we reached Vlieland, everyone was completely drained. It was already 2:00 PM, and aside from a few energy bars we hadn’t eaten anything — after five hours non-stop on the water. Combined with the countless wave breakers along Vlieland that created unpredictable waves, the stretch to the Badhuys felt extra demanding. But finally stepping inside, the contrast couldn’t have been bigger: from hardcore North Sea conditions straight into fine dining, warming up in a cozy atmosphere with soup, a kroket sandwich, and a healthy roll. Pure bliss.

Lunch gave us enough energy to face the final crossing of the day: Vlieland – Terschelling. A big 13 km stretch, notorious for its currents, sea waves, and hidden sandbanks. Leaving Vlieland, the waves were perfect — “downwind downwind, wave after wave, turn after turn” (yes, there’s even a downwind song on Spotify). Once underway, the group found themselves in massive ocean swells up to 4 meters high. It was an incredible feeling to be lifted high above the water by Mother Nature, seeing the entire world laid out before you, and then slowly sinking back down, swallowed in slow motion by the endless grey mass of the North Sea, surrounded by nothing but water.

The crossing went smoothly and everyone made it safely. Passing by the secret spot, we slowly cruised along the coastline until we finally saw the finish line of day one: West aan Zee! One by one the riders crossed the finish, their joy exploding from every face. The Arriva bus was waiting for us right there, ready to bring us to our hotel in West Terschelling — an amazing place with stunning views. After hot showers we continued straight to the Wigwam for a cozy dinner together, sharing stories and competing in who had the wildest tale. The front group ended the night with a couple of beers at the sailors’ bar ’t Zwaantje, and eventually everyone collapsed into bed — exhausted, fulfilled, and 100% satisfied.

With the wind at our backs, the group raced off under the lead of Thomas Vidal, who took the front position for the day. What a joy it was. On day one I was riding a strapless Appletree Klokhouse, and on day two I switched to a Sweet Shotgun. I thoroughly enjoyed both boards. On our twin tips, we were able to blast across the flat water at full speed — our trainer Klaas Einte Adema (Dutch kitesurf champion 2008) even clocked 89.9 km/h!! We kept a solid pace and quickly reached the end of Terschelling. The dunes gradually shrank and turned into a widening sandbank. In the distance, the lighthouse of Hollum rose clearly above the horizon — our target was in sight. Heads together, quick briefing for the crossing, and off we went.

The fun thing about this crossing is that it’s relatively short and you have a clear point to aim for. But in reality, it’s a wild waterpark between the islands: whirlpools, choppy pits, pyramid waves, a giant egg carton — pure chaos to kite through as if riding a rodeo horse. If you got thrown off, you were immediately in trouble. The current would grab your board, and in those conditions it was absolutely critical to recover it instantly and get back on. Luckily, the crossing went smoothly, and we carved a beautiful line toward Ameland. On arrival, we hit the secret lagoon for a short session and a quick pit stop to drink and recover. From there, we continued straight into epic waves, top conditions, and an unforgettable session.

The coastline faded, and from Ameland we reached De Kus — a stunning spot where we enjoyed our packed lunch and the breathtaking surroundings. Then came the final challenge: the longest and toughest crossing of all, from Ameland to Schiermonnikoog. A massive 14 km in total. From Ameland, with good visibility, you could just make out the Schiermonnikoog lighthouse. Midway between the two islands lies “The Reef,” a large sandbank that creates extremely turbulent water. Here we faced the roughest conditions of the entire tour. Gigantic pyramid waves would suddenly launch you skyward, only to crash you back down again. It was a true battle to stay on your board.

I was sweeping at the back together with Jelle Hak, and everything went well until we reached what we call the “dead man’s corner.” Suddenly we saw one rider falling behind, unable to keep up with the group. He struggled to recover his board, got thrown off time and time again, and eventually — as exhaustion set in after a full day of hardcore kiting — suffered a minor blackout in one of the worst possible places on the North Sea. Losing focus, losing his board, falling behind while watching the rest of the pack disappear ahead (though Jelle and I were right there with him), he must have felt utterly alone in the heaviest conditions he had ever faced. In such a moment, the only way through is to stay calm and keep thinking clearly.

We coached him through, step by step, into calmer waters where he regained his spirit. Thankfully, he managed to keep his kite in the air at all costs, which saved the situation. It was a mix of fatigue, pushing right at the edge of one’s limits, and sheer mental pressure. But our team gave him the confidence to finish the journey. As we finally kited into calmer waters and rode the downwinder, it felt like a massive victory to set foot on the beach of Schiermonnikoog. Pure triumph.

Summary of DEN TV TAS

For me, this felt like the ultimate friends’ weekend. Together with the KiteActive team, we acted as the shepherds — keeping the group together and ensuring a safe journey. Everyone contributed, and what stood out was the achievement, the breathtaking views, the raw power of nature, the humility of man, the energy of people accomplishing something extraordinary, the strong friendships, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to save a life.

Saving someone in the harshest conditions reminds us of the heroes of the KNRM (Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution) more than 100 years ago — rowing in wooden boats pulled into the sea by horses, risking everything to reach shipwrecked sailors without losing their own lives.

This tour truly had everything the Netherlands has to offer: powerful waves, endless flatwater lagoons, deserted sandbanks, stunning nature, sunshine, rainbows, ocean swell, rain, strong wind, light wind, seals, and a massive dose of fun. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip — and I think we all screamed out of sheer joy more than once along the way.

Level required for this tour

Your personal level means everything on this tour. Riders often underestimate the waves, the strong winds, but especially the physical and mental demands. Everything comes together during this downwinder. You need to handle hardship, keep a cool head in panic situations, and be extremely strong. Especially towards the end, we noticed that some participants were simply too exhausted to safely finish. For us, this remains a difficult variable, because we don’t know you personally. The big lesson: know yourself, know your limits, and never take unnecessary risks on such adventures. If in doubt — don’t do it!

Unauthorized riders

Before the start we were warned about unauthorized riders: people who desperately wanted to join the tour but didn’t get a spot, and then decided to try it on their own. We want to make this statement crystal clear: do not use this blog as inspiration to just grab some friends and attempt this on your own. The risks are enormous and the price you pay if something goes wrong is extremely high. Without local knowledge you will get nowhere. Never attempt this trip by yourself or with friends — it is simply not safe.

Safety of the tour

• In total, 6 people dropped out during the trip. Far too many, and something that should not have happened. For next year, we’ll hold a test downwinder to screen whether or not you can participate.
• 9 guides on the water with over 15 years of kite experience each, former competition riders who have surfed and executed rescues in all conditions worldwide. This last part is crucial: our team is specialized in saving people, carrying safety gear in waterproof packs at all times.
• Safety watches from SafeTRX. Without these, this trip could not have been organized. With one push of a button, the watch transmits your location via satellite to the KNRM, triggering a rescue operation.
• RIB or jet ski? The big question is whether this adds safety. A RIB in these conditions is practically powerless and gets tossed around in no time. A jet ski could support the crossings better, but it’s still extremely challenging. Next year, we’ll explore improvements — but always remember: no boat can reliably reach you out there, but one of our team can!
• Weather & conditions: In partnership with surfweer.nl, we had clear forecasts and detailed knowledge of conditions, allowing us to make the right calls.
• Experience & local knowledge: Thanks to many years of experience in this area, we know it inside out — enabling us to assess the situation and make the right decisions on the spot.

This leaves us wanting more!!

After such an adventurous weekend we returned to Lemmer absolutely buzzing — and already started making plans for next year. This is just the beginning: DEN TV TAS 2023? Or even a German edition? Want to stay up to date on our trips and events?