Rescue teams suspend search off Scheveningen coast for missing watersports athlete
Emergency services suspended their search on Sunday evening for a watersports athlete reported missing off the coast of Scheveningen on 25 October 2026.
Strong winds and extreme sea conditions halt nighttime operations
The safety region reported that rescue units had to stand down as darkness fell because safe operations were no longer possible in the harsh weather. According to reporting, the search took place amid extreme sea conditions and wind gusts reaching up to 50 knots, which is approximately 93 kilometers per hour.
Multiple lifeboats and a coast guard helicopter deploy along the Dutch coast
The missing individual was initially reported as a surfer or a kiter around 2:00 PM on Sunday, with the watersporter being reported missing around 14:00 uur. Bollenstreek Omroep noted that the person was part of a group of kitesurfers who departed from Kijkduin on a downwinder toward Noordwijk but failed to return, prompting fellow kitesurfers to sound the alarm and initiate a large-scale search. Initial search efforts covered the area between Kijkduin and Noordwijk before narrowing down to the waters off Scheveningen. Lifeboats from KNRM stations in Scheveningen, including the rescue boats Kitty Roosmale Nepveu and Jaap Pronk dispatched after the Kustwachtcentrum raised the alarm around 14:15 uur, along with units from Katwijk aan Zee, Noordwijk aan Zee (including the rescue boat Paul Johannes and the Kusthulpverleningsvoertuig dispatched at 15:39 uur on Sunday afternoon with priority 1), and Ter Heijde joined the operation alongside a coast guard helicopter originating from the Midden-Zeeland airfield near Arnemuiden. This aircraft later received reinforcement from a Dash-8 patrol aircraft starting around 17:45 uur, while intensive searches were conducted both from the beach and at sea.
Authorities coordinate response as search resumes Monday morning
As the operation continued Sunday afternoon, authorities escalated the response to GRIP 1 around 4:45 PM to coordinate cooperation among police, fire services, and medical personnel.
Keep reading