SURFWRLD

SURFWRLD is a planned surf park on the 17-hectare site of the former Werne colliery, beside the River Lippe in North Rhine-Westphalia, paired with SCNCWAVE, a hydrodynamic research facility using the same basin. Werne's city council approved the project in July 2025, and the developer, SW GmbH, has acquired the land. In September 2026 developer Michael Detering said almost all building permits were in hand and construction would start in October or November 2026, followed by about 20 months of building and an opening in early summer 2028. The first phase includes the wave pool, a main building with restaurant, surf shop and a 400-person conference area, offices and a 16-room hostel.

A 242-metre main basin with waves of more than two metres, including barrels, using a new wave drive technology the developer says is being patented; no vendor has been named. A ten-metre-wide covered standing wave, open all year, completes the surf offer. For research, the basin can produce wave effects over three metres high or 150 metres wide. Water comes from Lippe riverbank filtrate.

Surfers in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands once it opens: the site is about 35 minutes from Dortmund by car. Surf courses, camps and events for up to 500 people are planned.

Regular tickets for the main basin are expected to cost 49 to 95 euros per session depending on season, level and time of day. The first Early Bird allocation of 500 surf passes has sold out; the next allocation has not been released.

Nothing to book beyond the Early Bird waitlist. Dortmund Airport is about 25 minutes away by car.