Emiel Tromp

Insta: @emieltromp

From: Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands

Fins: 10.25" Cruise Control

Stance: Goofy

Favorite Wave: G-Land 

Favorite Food: Pizza and Nasi Campur

Dream Surf Trip: Indonesia. Maldives boat trip with the boys. To the South of Europe with my van

Music: King Gizzard, JJ Cale, Notorious BIG, Dirty Fences

Contest: Current and 2x Dutch Men's Longboard National Champion (2023, 2022)

Not far from the bustling Amsterdam canals where the Ij River meets the North Sea is Wijk aan Zee, hometown and homebreak of Emiel Tromp. Most people don’t even know there is surf in The Netherlands yet locals have been enjoying Dutch waves for over 50 years. Wijk aan Zee, informally known as Wijk, is one of the top spots, a regional classic, where the river and harbor walls sift the sand bottom into a nice wedgy beach break.

Enter Emiel Tromp, born and raised in the mellow beach village of Wijk aan Zee also adoringly nicknamed “Wijkiki” by fond beachgoers. World War II army bunkers line the beach in the shadow of the enormous Tata Steel factory spewing fiery plumes over the harbor entrance. Quite the contrast from the quaint town it borders but still very popular with surfers, fishermen and beach lovers.

Growing up surfing year-round here means you are comfortable in cold water and head-to-toe 5mm wetsuit rubber. Most prefer longboards for the typically smaller and weaker windswell surf.  But once conditions come together the surf is just fine for a shortboard, even barreling at times.  

Being “on it” for maybe a 45 minute window of good waves or surfing challenging windy and bumpy onshore conditions with river-like currents is normal here. Because when it all comes together and you do score a good session, there is no better feeling letting the dedication pay off.

Emiel knows the intricacies and introvertedness of his hometown surf all too well and has adjusted to its finnicky nature. He possesses a natural style that seems effortless on a longboard, yet calculated and in the lip on a shortboard. Admittedly these days Emiel says it is hard to get him off his shortboard fish shape but whenever he waxes up his 9’4 log he is always a stand out. Some might call him a natural because in his limited competitive career he has already won two Dutch NK  longboard national championships (2023, 2022) and remains the reigning champ today.

We asked Emiel to tell us a bit more about his background and he answered below:

“I started surfing at my parents' beach house in Wijk aan Zee when I was 9 years old. My father had an old windsurf board lying around on which I tried to catch waves. The following year I went to help out at the surf shop at the Wijk aan Zee North Pier in exchange for a surf lesson at the end of the day. Since then I have never stopped surfing. I like to surf all types of boards. With small mellow waves I like to go longboarding. I have a 9'4 log from Gordie surfboards from California that I always surf with the 10.25” Cruise Control Makai Fin. With better waves I like to grab a twin or shortboard. I surf a lot at home and in winter as often as possible on surf trips to warm water. I work for myself as a furniture maker, so I can organize myself a bit with work so that I can still catch the good sessions. Every now and then I like to compete, but I prefer to surf freely. In 2022 and 2023 I was the Dutch longboard champion.”

Photos:

www.annezwagers.com

@jaspersurft 

@nklongboarden

Emiel Tromp personal collection