Ballum tides today
- Tide now 8.7 ft ↓ falling · low 5:32 am (1.9 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 4:20–6:50 pm average day · 5/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 2.5 ft · 56 °F slight · 4.3 s from the west
- Wind · air 8 mph · 55 °F from the SW, gusts 13 · overcast
- Surf tomorrow 1.0–1.4 ft Poor day · 0/10 · 8:00 am–12:00 pm
- Sun 7:28 am–5:13 pm 9 h 44 min of daylight
- Moon 93% · 5:48 pm waning gibbous · rises at 5:48 pm
Today in Ballum there are high tides at 10:23 am (9.2 ft) and 10:38 pm (9.0 ft) and low tides at 4:50 am and 5:11 pm. Tide coefficient 82. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 5:32 am. The sun rises at 7:28 am and sets at 5:13 pm: 9 h 44 min of daylight. The moon is 93% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:48 pm. Major solunar periods run from 12:58 am to 2:58 am and from 1:29 pm to 3:29 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 2.5 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the southwest (8 mph). Overcast, 55 °F.
Fishing in Ballum today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Low tide at 5:11 pm
- Minor period 5:18–6:18 pm (moonrise)
- Sunset at 5:13 pm, golden hour from 4:21 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.37 inHg in 24 h), moderate offshore wind (15 mph) and some swell (3.3 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 82 (average tides)
- A minor period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 4:20 pm to 5:50 pm, combines the 5:11 pm low tide, moonrise, sunset and some swell, though with rising pressure and moderate wind. Also worth a try from 10:30 am to 11:20 am, with the 10:23 am high tide, moonset and some swell, though with rising pressure and moderate wind.
Species with the most records nearby: European plaice, common sole, whiting and European flounder. October is one of the months when these are seen most: whiting and Atlantic cod. What you can catch
Beach day in Ballum
Is it a beach day?
- Sun and clouds
- Calm for swimming: 3.3 ft waves
- Low tide at 5:11 pm: more sand
- Feels like 49 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate cross-shore wind (16 mph)
- Water at 56 °F (very cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 3.3 ft
3.3 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 56 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 16 mph
Moderate cross-shore wind (16 mph).
- Tide & sand 4:50 am
Low tide at 4:50 am and 5:11 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:23 am and 10:38 pm.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Ballum
We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of Ballum.
Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Bathing water quality: European Environment Agency (EEA), with data from the authorities of the Netherlands.
Webcams near Ballum
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Ballum
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:50 am 2.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:23 am 9.2 ft · coef. 82
- ▼ Low tide 5:11 pm 2.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:38 pm 9.0 ft · coef. 80
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 5 h 43 min to low tide at 5:32 am.
Tide coefficient 82 for the 10:23 am high tide and 80 for the 10:38 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 7.3 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: an average range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on October 10 (9.9 ft) and the lowest, on April 18 (0.8 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above chart datum: the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), the zero of nautical charts in Europe. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (LAT)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 9 to 11 (coefficient 86, 8.6 ft range). The smallest, from October 20 to 21 (coefficient 44, 4.4 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:28 am · 5:13 pm | Low tide 4:50 am · 2.0 ft | High tide 10:23 am · 9.2 ft | Low tide 5:11 pm · 2.0 ft | High tide 10:38 pm · 9.0 ft | Coef. 82 | 93% | Major periods 12:58 am · 1:29 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:30 am · 5:11 pm | Low tide 5:32 am · 1.9 ft | High tide 10:36 am · 8.9 ft | Low tide 5:51 pm · 2.2 ft | High tide 10:33 pm · 9.0 ft | Coef. 79 | 85% | Major periods 2:01 am · 2:34 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:32 am · 5:09 pm | Low tide 6:15 am · 1.9 ft | High tide 11:06 am · 8.6 ft | Low tide 6:32 pm · 2.5 ft | High tide 11:12 pm · 9.0 ft | Coef. 75 | 76% | Major periods 3:06 am · 3:38 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:34 am · 5:07 pm | Low tide 7:01 am · 2.0 ft | High tide 12:48 pm · 8.2 ft | Low tide 7:16 pm · 2.8 ft | — | Coef. 69 | 66% | Major periods 4:09 am · 4:39 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:36 am · 5:05 pm | High tide 12:14 am · 8.8 ft | Low tide 7:51 am · 2.3 ft | High tide 2:01 pm · 7.8 ft | Low tide 8:03 pm · 3.1 ft | Coef. 66 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:08 am · 5:36 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 7:38 am · 5:03 pm | High tide 2:14 am · 8.7 ft | Low tide 8:49 am · 2.6 ft | High tide 3:08 pm · 7.6 ft | Low tide 9:00 pm · 3.4 ft | Coef. 59 | 43% | Major periods 6:02 am · 6:27 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:40 am · 5:01 pm | High tide 3:26 am · 8.7 ft | Low tide 10:00 am · 2.8 ft | High tide 4:16 pm · 7.5 ft | Low tide 10:12 pm · 3.5 ft | Coef. 54 | 33% | Major periods 6:52 am · 7:15 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (LAT). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Ballum has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Amelander Westgat Platform (TICON-4), 11 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database). Source: Hart-Davis, M., Dettmering, D., Seitz, F. (2025), TICON-4: TIdal CONstants based on GESLA-4 sea-level records, SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/109129. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: see https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database#modifications-to-source-data
The sea at Ballum
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.2 ft
- Significant2.5 ft
- Highest expectedHighest5.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 5.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 5.2 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces northwest and the wind blows along the shore: drift and current run parallel to the beach.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Monday 2: 3.5 ft with a period of 5 s, from the north (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water about normal for late October.
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 11:49 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from Rijkswaterstaat Water, Traffic and Environment, via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Surf in Ballum today
Surf today
Poor- 1.6–2.5 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 1.6 ft swell at 5 s from the west-northwest, short: weak, messy waves
- 2.3 ft wind swell at 3 s: messy waves
- Light offshore wind (11 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Rising tide (high tide at 10:23 am)
- Light: First light 6:52 am · sunrise 7:28 am · sunset 5:13 pm · last light 5:49 pm
- Tide: low 4:50 am (2.0 ft), high 10:23 am (9.2 ft), low 5:11 pm (2.0 ft) and high 10:38 pm (9.0 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 55.4 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 19 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, has light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell and wind swell. 3:00 pm to 5:49 pm can also work, with light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell and wind swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Ballum today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (10:23 am): little current from 9:10 am to 11:20 am
- 3.0 ft surface waves
- Light offshore wind (11 mph)
- 0.4 mph current toward the northeast, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 4:50 am (4:30–5:05 am), high tide 10:23 am (9:10–11:20 am), low tide 5:11 pm (4:50–5:30 pm) and high tide 10:38 pm (9:20–11:40 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 55.4 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 5:49 pm. Waning gibbous (93%), rising at 5:48 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 8:50 am to 10:30 am, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Eurosee 3.8 mi
- Nobis 4.8 mi
- Aurora (LO 2) 5.5 mi
- Panagathos 5.6 mi
- Svanen 6.2 mi
- Wreck 5.4 mi
- Vogelpôlle 1.7 mi
- Groene Strand 1.8 mi
- Blauwe Balg 3.9 mi
- Hoge Wier 4.7 mi
- Koffieboonenplaat 5.6 mi
- Ameland-diving 3.8 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Wrecks: EMODnet Human Activities (AND-International), from UK Hydrographic Office data, CC BY 4.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weather in Ballum
Now in Ballum
- Low / high
- 53 / 56 °F
- Rain
- 0.01 in · 33%
- Clouds
- 86%
- Humidity
- 91%
- Dew pointDew point
- 52 °F
- Visibility
- 13 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 25
- Saharan dust
- No
- Pollen
- None
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.02 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.23 inHg. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 55° | 54° | 54° | 53° | 55° | 56° | 55° | 55° |
| Wind (mph) | 10 WSW | 10 WSW | 9 WSW | 11 SW | 14 SW | 16 SW | 15 SW | 10 SW |
| Gusts | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 24 | 21 | 15 |
| Waves | 2.8 ft | 2.8 ft | 2.8 ft | 2.9 ft | 3.2 ft | 3.3 ft | 3.3 ft | 2.9 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 12:00 am 55° 8 SW 2.4 ft
- 3:00 am 54° 8 SW 2.0 ft
- 6:00 am 54° 7 SW 1.7 ft
- 9:00 am 54° 6 SW 1.4 ft
- 12:00 pm 56° 7 SW 1.2 ft
- 3:00 pm 56° 4 W 1.1 ft
- 6:00 pm 55° 2 SW 1.0 ft
- 9:00 pm 53° 4 SSE 1.0 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 53 / 56 °F | 16 mph SW | 3.3 ft | 10:23 am · 10:38 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 52 / 56 °F | 9 mph SW | 2.4 ft | 10:36 am · 10:33 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 47 / 52 °F | 6 mph SE | 1.0 ft | 11:06 am · 11:12 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 51 / 55 °F | 7 mph NW | 0.7 ft | 12:48 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 54 / 55 °F | 9 mph NW | 0.9 ft | 12:14 am · 2:01 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 52 / 55 °F | 21 mph N | 3.5 ft | 2:14 am · 3:08 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 50 / 53 °F | 11 mph NE | 3.3 ft | 3:26 am · 4:16 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 42 / 52 °F | 2 mph S | 2.0 ft | 4:37 am · 5:28 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 39 / 51 °F | 4 mph E | 1.3 ft | 5:50 am · 6:37 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 45 / 52 °F | 3 mph WNW | 1.2 ft | 6:57 am · 7:33 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 37 / 47 °F | 6 mph ESE | 1.5 ft | 7:52 am · 8:19 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 37 / 49 °F | 6 mph S | 1.1 ft | 8:37 am · 9:00 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 45 / 52 °F | 9 mph SSE | 1.5 ft | 9:17 am · 9:37 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 50 / 56 °F | 12 mph S | 1.8 ft | 9:54 am · 10:13 pm |
- Thu 29 Fog 52° / 56° 2.4 ft
- Fri 30 Fog 47° / 52° 1.0 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 51° / 55° 0.7 ft
- Sun 1 Light rain 54° / 55° 0.9 ft
- Mon 2 Light rain 52° / 55° 3.5 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 50° / 53° 3.3 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 42° / 52° 2.0 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+2.5 °F; normal high: 53 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 11:49 pm (local time).
The sun in Ballum
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:11 am
- Full dark 6:30 pm
- Civil dawn 6:52 am
- Civil dusk 5:49 pm
- Solar noon 12:21 pm (23° high)
- Daylight 9 h 44 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 4:21 pm
- Full dark 6:30 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,360,248 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Ballum
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,461 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 12:58–2:58 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:29–3:29 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 10:35–11:35 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 5:18–6:18 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 9:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 8:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 12:48 pmNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 3:54 pmNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Ballum
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Ballumerbocht 1.4 mi
- Jetty 1.3 mi
- Jetty 1.5 mi
- Jetty 2.1 mi
- Jetty 2.2 mi
- Jetty 2.3 mi
- Jetty 2.4 mi
- Jetty 3.1 mi
- Boat ramp 1.4 mi
- Boat ramp 3.7 mi
- Boat ramp 4.8 mi
- Waddenhaven Ameland 3.7 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Shallow, gradualShallow, gradual bottom: you need to go 2.7 mi out for 33 ft of water.
From the shoreline (2.2 mi from Ballum) out to sea, heading northwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep2.1 mi
- 33 ft deep2.7 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 2.1 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 2.7 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Source: EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024 (CC BY 4.0), cells of about 380 ft; depth at the lowest astronomical tide. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Ameland Lighthouse 2.6 mi west
- Light
- 3 white flashes every 15 s · Fl(3) W 15s
- Range
- 30 nautical miles (35 mi)
- Light height
- 190 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 180 ft
- Built
- 1880
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near BallumTides nearby
- Hollum2.0 mi
- Nes3.6 mi
- Buren4.6 mi
- Holwert10 mi
- Ternaard12 mi
- Oosterend13 mi
- Wierum14 mi
- Hoorn14 mi
- Lies15 mi
- Tzummarum15 mi
Ballum at a glance
- Town or city of about 360 people. Coordinates: 53.443° N, 5.687° E.
- It is 20 mi east of West-Terschelling, the main place in Friesland. The sun rises 2 min earlier and sets 2 min earlier than in West-Terschelling.
- The nearest tide station, Amelander Westgat Platform, is 11 mi to the east.
- Its coast faces northwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Beach Ameland (3.0 mi).
Questions about BallumQuestions
What time is high tide today in Ballum?
Today in Ballum there are high tides at 10:23 am (9.2 ft) and 10:38 pm (9.0 ft) and low tides at 4:50 am and 5:11 pm. Tide coefficient 82.
What time is sunset today in Ballum?
At 5:13 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:49 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Ballum?
At 7:30 am. First light comes at 6:13 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 93% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 8:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 12:58–2:58 am, Minor 10:35–11:35 am, Major 1:29–3:29 pm, Minor 5:18–6:18 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Ballum?
Light rain, from 53 °F to 56 °F, with a gentle breeze from the southwest (8 mph) and a 33% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Ballum?
Slight (Douglas 3): 2.5 ft waves with a period of 4.3 s from the west. The water is 55.6 °F.
When is the best time to visit Ballum?
The best time to visit Ballum is from July to August: highs of 70 °F, about 11 rainy days a month and 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Amelander Westgat Platform station, with constants from TICON-4 (Hart-Davis, Dettmering and Seitz, 2025, SEANOE), licensed CC BY 4.0, via Slackwater database (changes). Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).