There's a lot more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam, cheese, clogs and tulips! And its coastline demonstrates this perfectly.
Dutch beaches tend to be wide with white sand, clear waters and many also doting picturesque dunes. They can be great for swimming and sunbathing in summer or for a winter stroll and a cosy coffee at one of the beach clubs.
Below are 5 of my favourite year-round Dutch beaches in the Randstad region (“Ring City") - this is the area that stretches from Utrecht in the east, Amsterdam in the north, and the Hague and Rotterdam in the south. I hope they inspire you to check out the coast when you next visit the Netherlands!
Zandmotor Beach, Monster
Zandmotor Beach is just a 15-minute drive from the busy city of The Hague.
Due to it's size, being very long and wide, even in Summer it doesn’t feel crowded at all.
Zandmotor is a good beach option if you're looking for a peaceful spot with a more natural feel.
Beware, there is some walking or cycling involved to get to the beach from the road. It took us around 25 minutes to walk it. The paths go through a nature reserve which adds to the charm of a day out exploring.
We didn't see any shops, bars or restaurants here so I definitely recommend to take some snacks and drinks with you.
Interestingly, Zandmotor is an artificial sand bank, created following the principles of Building with Nature: ocean currents, wind and waves are gradually spreading the sand along the coast and into the dunes. The aim is to reinforce the coastline in the long term and to create an attractive area for leisure and nature. You can read more information about it here.
Bloemendaal beach
Bloemendaal is close to the city of Haarlem and only a 25-minute drive from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Unlike Zandmotor it has beach bars and clubs and activities for people to do.
The first time I went to Bloemendaal beach I was surprised at how nice the beach was, and how close to Amsterdam it is! I kept thinking "Why had I never known about it before?"
It’s an incredibly long and wide sandy beach surrounded by the dunes of the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park which makes it incredibly scenic.
For a drink I recommend going to Woodstock 69. The beach club has a relaxed and fun atmosphere and colourful decor, and it even has palm trees!
Langevelderslag Beach
Langevelderslag is less than a 20-minute drive from the city of Leiden and found between Noordwijk and Zandvoort.
It has picturesque dunes and is a wide and soft sandy beach. Surrounded by nature it has a peaceful atmosphere and makes you feel far away from city life.
Beware though, here there are no shops, bars or restaurants here - so remember to take your own picnic!
Getting to the beach from the main road involves around a 20-minute walk, through the beautiful Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes, a unique 35 km2 dune reserve. It's one of the largest contiguous walking areas in the country.
Scheveningen beach, Den Hague
Scheveningen Beach is close to Den Hague's city centre and is very busy year-round.
Expect a buzzing beach with endless restaurants and bars to choose from. It also has a vibrant promenade and pier with its iconic Ferris wheel.
Good to know, the beach clubs can be quite pricey. But, sipping on a cocktail while watching the sunset over the sea transports you to somewhere more tropical, which might be worth paying for.
Katwijk Beach
Katwijk is a 15-minute drive from the university city of Leiden.
The sand is white, soft and powdery. And like most Dutch beaches it's long, wide and clean.
The beach is adorned with numerous pleasant restaurants and bars, some of which offer beach beds.
We had a great Poki bowl lunch and drinks at a cute bohemian-looking restaurant, I just wish I could remember its name!
Comment below if this blog post surprised you. Or let me know more cool Dutch beaches I should check out.
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