The Netherlands is a great place to go skydiving, with the flat country below laid out exactly like an enormous map. But where do you start if this is something you want to do? Here's all you need to know about skydiving in the Netherlands!
What is skydiving?
Broadly, skydiving is simply jumping out of a plane with a parachute.
The first parachute jump happened much earlier than you might think - even before the invention of the aeroplane! In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin jumped out of a hot air balloon from almost a kilometre above Paris, and floated gently to the ground in a basket attached to a silk parachute.
These days, parachute jumps tend to start from 2.100 metres (or 7.000 feet, as most aviation-related things globally are still measured in feet) above the ground, which gives you roughly 10 seconds of free-fall before the parachute needs to be deployed. This is usually the beginners’ height, with more experienced skydivers jumping from 2.700m (9.000ft) or even 3.960m (13.000ft). This almost four-kilometre jump gives you a whole 60 seconds of free-fall and is not for the faint-hearted!
Once your parachute has opened, you get to enjoy four to five minutes of weightless gliding through the air, admiring the view and the whole other world you have found yourself in.
When you start out skydiving, you will be jumping tandem. This means you are strapped to an experienced skydiver who can take control of releasing the parachute and guiding you to the landing pad. All you have to do is remember to enjoy yourself!
How much does it cost to go skydiving in the Netherlands?
The price for skydiving in the Netherlands varies from provider to provider, and depends on the package that you want. Generally speaking, you can book a tandem jump for as little as 175 euros for the lowest altitude jumps. This can increase to 280 euros for the highest altitude.
Until you are a fully qualified skydiver, you are not allowed to take your own camera or Go-Pro skydiving with you. Therefore, most skydiving operators in the Netherlands also offer media packages, where either the instructor with a handheld camera or a cameraman with a helmet camera will jump alongside you to photograph or film your adrenaline rush! This can add as much as 125 euros to the cost of the jump, but then you are essentially paying for a whole other person to come along with you.
Prices can also vary between seasons and even days of the week, with a mid-week flight often being cheaper than a weekend.
Best places to go skydiving in the Netherlands
There are lots of options for skydiving in the Netherlands. Here are just a few of the highlights.
Texel
Texel is undoubtedly one of the most amazing places to skydive in Europe, let alone in the Netherlands. Even just the flight up here is amazing, as you can look down on the small Wadden Island and see coast to coast! People pay for sightseeing flights around here, so you're getting that as a freebie! The island of Texel is easily reachable from Amsterdam as a day trip. Paracentrum Texel has been operating from Texel since 1969, so you’re in safe hands too!
Ameland
Another Wadden Island that you can skydive on is Ameland. Just as beautiful as Texel, the one drawback here is it’s not so easy to reach from the mainland if you are travelling by public transport. The aptly named Skydive Ameland operates here.
Hogeveen
Tucked away in the province of Drenthe, Skydive Hoogeveen offers something very special indeed: the highest skydiving in Europe! You can jump from 5.000m (15.000 ft) here, and it’s the only place in the Netherlands to offer this height.
Apeldoorn
Technically in a village just outside of Apeldoorn, Skydive Teuge has several unique selling points. Firstly, they are right in the centre of the country, making them one of the most accessible centres in the Netherlands, and secondly, they have the largest drop zone in the Netherlands, and the second largest in Europe!
Breda
If you're located in Brabant, you want to go to the city of Breda and head to the airport there to do your jump. Skydive ENPC was the first parachuting centre in the Netherlands and has been in operation since 1948. You couldn’t be in more experienced hands!
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the biggest city that offers skydiving. If you dive with Skydive Rotterdam, you can set out from Rotterdam The Hague Airport. Don’t worry, the dropzone is in the rural area of Rhoon, so you won’t be jumping anywhere near the flight paths of international jets!
Zeeland
Zeeland is another amazingly beautiful location to jump from, with miles and miles of green fields in one direction and the sandy beaches of the Zeeland coastline in the other. Skydiving centre Skydive Zeeland is your operator here, based in tiny Arnemuiden.
Where can I go indoor skydiving in the Netherlands?
If you want to experience the thrill of free-fall but are a little nervous about jumping out of a plane, indoor skydiving might be the best option for you. You simply walk through the door of the wind chamber and don’t have to jump off anything! Indoor skydiving is also open to people who might not otherwise be able to skydive due to things such as height, age or weight restrictions.
Utrecht
City Skydive in Utrecht is a great way to get into skydiving. You can take several “flights” in their 23-metre-tall wind chamber each session, improving your skills each time. If you get the bug, you can sign up for courses to learn how to do tricks and moves like somersaults!
Roosendaal
For those in the south of the country, Roosendaal is the best place to go indoor skydiving. Children from as young as four years old can indoor skydive at Indoor Skydive Roosendaal, so it’s a great family day out for those with adventurous little ones!
Let’s go skydiving!
So what are you waiting for? If skydiving seems like your kind of fun, check the weather forecast and book yourself a skydive in the Netherlands now!