Impinging circular free-surface water jets are used in challenging cooling and cleaning tasks. In order to develop simulation models for process optimization, validation data are required, which are currently not available. Therefore, the flow field of these jets is studied for the first time with the novel laser Doppler velocity profile sensor. The mean velocity field and fluctuations are measured within the stagnation and adjacent redirection region for radial coordinates up to three times the nozzle diameter. In the examined parameter range with jet velocities up to 17 m/s and nozzle diameters up to 5.2 mm, i.e., Reynolds numbers up to 69 500, thin films of a few hundred micrometers are formed, which hinder the measurement with common optical measuring systems. Based on the measurement results, a comparatively low-cost volume of fluid simulation model is developed and validated that presumes a relaminarized film flow. The profiles measured and the simulated flow show very good agreement. In the future, the simulation model provides a basis for process optimization and the innovative measurement technology used will prospectively provide further detailed insights into other flows with high velocity gradients.