Holiday apartment in Beverwijk: Dunes, beach and fortress history

Dunes, beach, museums and forts give Beverwijk a diverse character. Between the Wijkermeerpolder, the green outskirts of the city and Wijk aan Zee lie nature trails, maritime activities, historic defensive structures and surprising local stories. This is where the landscape connects with culture, outdoor activities and places that reveal the development of the region.

Nature and trails

De Rellen in Wijk aan Zee is the southernmost entrance to the Noord-Hollands Duinreservaat. Three marked walking routes begin at the De Rellen dune entrance. Another route, the Rondje Wijk aan Zee, leads through the landscape around Wijk aan Zee. It partly follows sandy paths through high dunes, through nature and past historic points in Wijk aan Zee. Wijk aan Zee also has a walk through the village centre on paved paths, which is accessible to people with limited mobility.

Aagtenpark lies on the green eastern edge of Beverwijk and is a publicly accessible nature and recreation area. Visitors can walk and cycle there. Activities for sports and play, as well as recreation and culture, can also be organised in Aagtenpark, including small cultural events, open-air performances and exhibitions in a natural setting.

Coast and Wijk aan Zee

Wijk aan Zee beach is a family beach; activities available there include surfing, parasailing and blow-karting. The so-called Blauwe Loper enables wheelchair, mobility scooter and rollator users to get close to the sea. This means that the beach offers both various water sports activities and a specifically designated route providing access to the vicinity of the sea.

Culture and history

Museum Kennemerland presents the history of Kennemerland through archaeological finds and stories from everyday life. The Kinheim tapestries can also be seen there. In the first half of the 20th century, the tapestry workshop was known for its craftsmanship and innovative designs. Its large tapestries, hand-knotted by teams of skilled women, found their way to the Peace Palace, luxury ships and Soestdijk Palace, among other places. The museum is housed in a Rijksmonument dating from 1908, whose design draws on Dutch Classicism.

Muziekfort on the Sint Aagtendijk is a provincial monument in Beverwijk. It served to defend the Sint Aagtendijk and the west quay of the Zuidwijkermeerpolder. The defensible earthwork was completed in 1895 and the bombproof building in 1899. One of the casemates houses a permanent exhibition. The section of the Amsterdam Defence Line in the Wijkermeerpolder also includes four forts and part of the fortified dike between Beverwijk and the village of Krommenie.

Routes and local features

The Wijkermeerpolderroute follows the old sea dike to the village of Assendelft and returns via the Communicatieweg or along the North Sea Canal. Beverwijk's history also includes its strawberry tradition: Beverwijk became known for its strawberries, and at the beginning of the 20th century, millions of kilograms were exported to Germany and England.

Animal Farm Zoo is located on an island in Willem-Alexanderplantsoen in Beverwijk. Visitors can walk among animals and plants there; admission to Animal Farm is free. De Bazaar combines shops, outlets, market stalls and food and drink venues with goods and offerings from all over the world.

Another local destination is Wijntuin Ronja, a community winery run by 300 winegrowers at Landgoed Rorik. Workshops and wine tastings are held there.

More local pages: Wijk Aan Zee, Beverwijk.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: North Holland.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Hollands Kroon, Medemblik, Opmeer, Naarden, Haarlem, Muiden.