After a 10 year delay, Rotterdam has finally welcomed Rif010, an urban surfing paradise. The centre opened its doors at the Steigersgracht, near the city’s famous Foodhallen, on 6 July and offers a wide range of activities for water sports lovers.
For the last decade, the project has been the dream of surfer and businessman Edwin Van Viegen. The location at the Steigersgracht was particularly important to him, as it meant visitors could easily combine sports with culture and food. “I felt like surfing but had no time to drive to the beach. Then I thought: how great would it be to be able to surf here?”, Van Vliegen commented. “I discovered that there was a twinkle in people’s eyes when I talked about Rif010.”
One might ask why anyone would prefer surfing in a basin rather than at sea. The answer to that question is rather simple: at Rif010, you don’t depend on meteorological conditions as everything is controlled. The waves are therefore perfect both for beginners and advanced surfers, who are welcomed at two different parts of the site: the Bay and the Reef. According to the organisation, the waves break on 2 reefs and every 7 seconds, a new wave is generated with a height ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 metres. Every hour, approximately 330 waves roll through the canal.
Apart from surfing, it will also be possible to body board, raft and surf kayak. Those who prefer the open water after all can also rent a canoe or sup at Rif010 and explore Rotterdam along the canals. On-site, sports enthusiasts will also find a surf shop and a surf bar, which is perfect for a drink post-surf or to watch your favourite surfer in action.
The whole installation has been developed to be as sustainable as possible and Van Vliegen also wants to offer Rotterdam’s school children the opportunity to learn how to surf.
Even though the calendar for the first few weeks has already been filled, you can book a surfing slot through the organisation’s website. Prices range from 35 euros to approximately 60 euros for a surfing session.
