10 Best Beaches in the Netherlands

Scheveningen Beach is undoubtedly the most popular in the country. Just 20 minutes from The Hague, this long sandy stretch is lined with restaurants, beach bars and amusements. Hit the arcade or ride the Ferris wheel on the pier for a high-flying view of the coastline. Known for its many annual events, Scheveningen hosts a summer fireworks festival and the Vliegerfestival, in which hundreds of colourful kites soar over the sand. 

While this beach is always a busy spot, there’s space to sit back and relax. The ornate facade of the historic Kurhaus Hotel provides a grand backdrop. For a dose of culture, wander the indoor-outdoor exhibit halls of Beeleden aan Zee, a sculpture museum tucked into the dunes. 

Zandvoort aan Zee is the city dweller’s seaside escape. It’s the closest beach to Amsterdam, conveniently connected by direct train. Whether your ideal day away means burgers and beers on the beach, or you just want to stretch out on some soft sand, Zandvoort offers both. One of the Netherlands’ largest beaches, there are more than 30 beach pavilions and no shortage of powdery sand.  

Lovers of wide-open spaces will want to explore Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, which borders the beach and stretches across the countryside to Haarlem. Walking the park’s paths, visitors pass through forests and grassy dunes where wild ponies roam the hills. 

The Hook of Holland offers many of the charms of the more popular Scheveningen Beach without all the crowds. An easy 30-minute trip on the Rotterdam metro, this beach is a favourite of locals. Some beachgoers like to bring their bikes to explore the network of paved paths that weave among the dunes. 

A distinct feature of this beach is its location by the mouth of the port of Rotterdam, Europe’s busiest harbour. You can watch the ships coming in from your seat at the beach bar. The nearby Atlantikwall Museum, located in an old German bunker, gives insight into the strategic significance of the port during the Second World War. 

One of the Wadden Islands off the coast of Noord Holland, Ameland has some of the country’s cleanest and most secluded beaches. To get there, you’ll need to take the ferry from Holwert. You can bring your car with you or leave it on the mainland; either way, be sure to get your ferry tickets well in advance. 

Beaches run the length of the north coast and bike paths connect the island’s 4 villages. Hollum is the most charming, with its traditional cottages and red-and-white lighthouse. For more than 30 years, Ameland’s beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag, a testament to their safety and cleanliness. 

Texel is the largest of the Wadden Islands with many beaches to choose from along its 30 kilometres of coastline. It offers a quintessentially Dutch experience: white sand beaches, grassy dunes teeming with birds and top-notch beer and cheese. The Texelse Bierbrouwerij uses water from the dunes in their brewing process, resulting in super-smooth brews.  

About one-third of the island is designated as a nature reserve. From swamps and woodlands to fields of purple heather, the landscapes are varied and serene. Animal lovers won’t want to miss Ecomare, an aquarium and rehabilitation centre for injured seals. 

The beach at Egmond aan Zee is a gem on the coast of Noord Holland. Spacious and rarely crowded, the long, sandy shoreline offers a peaceful respite. The wide-open expanse of sea and sky is interrupted only by a small lighthouse and an old Ferris wheel. To enjoy the simple romance of this place, take a spin around the wheel then get yourself an ice cream and watch the sunset over the sea. 

The town itself is quaint, with shops and restaurants within walking distance. Motorised traffic is prohibited in some areas to preserve the tranquil atmosphere.  

Katwijk aan Zee is a popular seaside getaway just north of The Hague. Smaller than other beaches in the Netherlands, it wins visitors for its easy accessibility. A boulevard running through the town centre offers a variety of shopping, including an open-air complex with clothing retailers and speciality shops. The city offers accommodations for weekend visitors ranging from beach houses to campsites and holiday parks.  

Founded as an artist’s village, the windswept coast at Katwijk has drawn landscape painters for centuries. The famed painter Jacob van Ruisadel’s first known work was painted here. To learn about the town’s unique history as a community of fishermen and artists, visit the thoughtfully curated Katwijks Museum. 

Zandmotor Beach in The Hague might be the biggest in the Netherlands. The vast swaths of sand are so wide that in places it feels nearly like a desert, and it never sees crowds. This, along with strong winds, makes it a popular spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing.  

A man-made beach, the Zandmotor is a coastal maintenance project devised with the advanced engineering skills the Dutch are known for. Be aware that the area floods twice daily due to high tides. A known destination among fossil hunters, you may find fossilised bones of extinct mammals among the seashells washing up on the shore.  

The beaches on Terschelling are some of the country’s most quiet and remote. One of the Wadden Islands off the north coast, it has dunes and a shoreline that extends for kilometres with no signs of civilisation. There are so few city lights on the island that in the evenings the starry sky is in clear view, making these beaches perfect for camping.  

This island has a variety of landscapes to explore, from coastal salt marshes to inland forests. There’s even a nature reserve on the west side of the island. While the beaches are beautiful, currents run strong here, so exercise caution when getting in the water.