North Holland is the most visited province in the Netherlands, home to the vibrant capital Amsterdam, historic Haarlem, and the iconic cheese markets of Alkmaar. The region blends world-class museums, golden tulip fields, windmills, and pristine North Sea beaches into an unforgettable travel destination.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in North Holland.
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Zandvoort Beach
The most popular and easily accessible beach from Amsterdam, a wide sandy North Sea beach backed by dunes. Zandvoort town has a good range of restaurants and accommodation. The Circuit Zandvoort (home of the Dutch Grand Prix) is adjacent. Beach clubs, surfing, and family facilities are excellent.
Editor’s tip. T
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Bloemendaal aan Zee
Adjacent to Zandvoort but with a very different atmosphere — Bloemendaal aan Zee is famous for its atmospheric beach clubs including the legendary Woodstock69 and Republiek. The scenery is stunning with high dunes dropping to a wide beach. More adult and party-oriented than Zandvoort.
Editor’s tip. W
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Castricum aan Zee
A beautiful, relatively peaceful North Holland beach backed by the Noord-Hollands Duinreservaat — a vast nature reserve of dunes, forests, and coastal heath. The beach is wide and wild, with excellent cycling and hiking in the dunes. The North Holland Dune Reserve protects some of the finest coastal scenery in the country.
Editor’s tip. C
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Bergen aan Zee
A charming, quiet beach village set among the dunes north of Alkmaar. Bergen aan Zee has a different character from the larger beach resorts — smaller, more relaxed, and surrounded by beautiful dune scenery. The adjacent Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel protects outstanding coastal landscapes.
Editor’s tip. C
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IJmuiden Beach
A wide, flat beach at the mouth of the North Sea Canal, with the dramatic spectacle of huge cargo ships and container vessels passing remarkably close offshore as they enter and exit the port. The North Pier extends far out to sea and is popular for fishing and photography. Fresh fish directly from the fish auction at IJmuiden harbour.
Editor’s tip. W
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Egmond aan Zee
A traditional Dutch fishing village on the North Sea with a lovely beach, a lighthouse, and a charming village centre. Egmond aan Zee retains more of its original character as a working fishing community than most North Holland beach towns. The lighthouse at the southern end of the village is a landmark.
Editor’s tip. T
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.