Exciting things are in store for keen London surfers: soon, you won't have to catch a flight or drive six hours to ride a wave in Cornwall. You'll be able to hop on the Eurostar from London St Pancras International and be surfing in no time. RiF010 is set to open on July 6, 2024, commemorated by the Rotterdam Surf Open, and is the first-ever surf pool in the middle of a city. The new surf centre is located in the heart of Rotterdam and transforms a forgotten part of the city into a new, thriving community hub.
The Dutch are world-famous for their land reclamation tradition, which is a vital part of their history and development, so it's no surprise that this epic transformation is taking place. Construction began at the end of 2022, with the surf pool taking shape in 2023 and the beach house on Vlasmarkt ready in June 2024. The wave installation and the beach house operate on sustainably generated electricity. For example, the water in the surf pool is filtered with micro-sieves, which use much less energy than traditional sand filters.
It's been ten years in the making, with pioneer Edwin van Viegen bringing the idea to life, stating, "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?"
The complex is more than just a place to surf; it's a community hotspot with a surf shop selling sustainably produced surfboards and a surf bar. There's also a water-level restaurant with a covered terrace that will be the go-to spot to fuel up before hitting the water or enjoy watching the waves with a drink in hand.
The surf pool will be divided into two surfing spots: one for beginners to take lessons and another for more experienced surfers. If surfing isn't your thing, you can also rent canoes and SUPs from the beach house, perfect for exploring Rotterdam from the Rotte.
On July 6, an international surfing competition is scheduled to celebrate the official opening of RiF010, the Rotterdam Surf Open, where the best surfers from the Netherlands and beyond are coming to showcase their skills.
