Noordwijk aan Zee Beach

Noordwijk aan Zee is the seaside part of Noordwijk, on the North Sea coast of South Holland, and its beach is one of the broadest and most pleasant in the Bollenstreek. Behind the sand rise the dunes, and between the dunes and the town runs the boulevard, lined with hotels, restaurants and shops. The resort has been a destination for well-off visitors since the nineteenth century, when the Dutch, Germans and Belgians began to travel to the coast for fresh air and sea bathing, and it kept a calm, upmarket air even as it became more popular with ordinary holidaymakers.

The beach itself is broad, with fine sand, a gentle slope and plenty of space, even in summer. A long line of beach pavilions provides food and drink, and in good weather the terraces are crowded and cheerful, while in winter the beach is empty and wild, with storm waves, wind and long walks. Cycling along the dunes and the coast is easy on well-kept paths, and kitesurfers and walkers share the shore. The beach is free to use, and lifeguards are on duty in the season at marked areas.

The coast also holds traces of the Second World War. In 1942 and 1943, the German occupiers built the Atlantic Wall, a long chain of bunkers and defences along the coast of Europe, and parts of it can still be found in the dunes at Noordwijk, half-buried and overgrown, a reminder of the wartime history of the coast. A white lighthouse in the town is a local landmark, visible from many points along the beach and the dunes. The boulevard and the streets behind it offer a variety of places to eat and shop.

There is plenty to do around the beach. The Noordwijkse Duinen, the dune nature area, and the woodland of the Noordwijkse Bos are good for walking, De Witte Bergen is a dune area with a distinctive character, and the Bollenstreek Route takes cyclists inland through the flower fields, which are in bloom in spring. Museum De Zwarte Toren and the Kerkplein show the history of the town, and the Noordwijk Centrum has shops and cafes. The European Space Agency's research centre, ESTEC, is based in Noordwijk, a surprising neighbour for a seaside resort.

The beach suits families, couples, walkers, cyclists and anyone who enjoys a classic Dutch seaside day. Public transport links are good, with buses to Leiden and the railway stations nearby, and parking is available at several points near the dunes. Come in the late afternoon for the best light and quieter sand.