Holiday apartment in Castricum – Dunes, Nature and History

Castricum lies at the intersection of dunes, polders and the North Sea. The municipality consists of the five village centres Castricum, Bakkum, Akersloot, Limmen and De Woude. As a result, coastal landscapes, open peat meadows, village history and waterways come together within a compact municipal area.

Nature and Landscape

In the Noord-Hollands Duinreservaat, dunes, beaches and dune forests are protected while also being made accessible to the public. At the Bezoekerscentrum De Hoep, visitors can learn how plants and animals live in the Noord-Hollands Duinreservaat and how drinking water is obtained with the help of nature. The visitor centre also organises activities and nature excursions throughout the year.

The peatland areas around Akersloot and De Woude are part of the Laag Holland National Landscape. The open landscape consists largely of water-rich peat meadows. The Duin en Bosch estate offers a different landscape experience, with walks through oak and beech forests, past small dunes and tranquil bodies of water lined with reeds. From Castricum railway station, the dunes can be reached in five minutes via the Zanderij dune entrance.

Water is also part of the village landscape. At Camping de Boekel, visitors can canoe in the natural area around Akersloot, including on the Limmerdie and the Kerkermeer.

History and Culture

Huis van Hilde is the archaeological museum of the province of Noord-Holland in Castricum. The permanent exhibition presents the history of the province of Noord-Holland through archaeological finds and includes life-size reconstructions of former inhabitants of Noord-Holland. In addition to the permanent exhibition, Huis van Hilde offers temporary exhibitions and events.

The municipality of Castricum's historical diversity also includes more than one hundred municipal, provincial and national monuments. Hundreds of flower bulb varieties dating from before 1900 grow in the Hortus Bulborum, including varieties from the 16th century. One of the oldest is Fritillaria Persica from 1577.

The old cemetery at Duin en Bosch is the resting place of people who were buried there between 1909 and 1963 as patients, employees or relatives of the psychiatric hospital. Throughout the season, Museumgemaal 1879 presents a permanent exhibition about the Oer-IJ on the upper floor. Three art exhibitions by amateur and professional artists are held annually on the ground floor. During the exhibition period, the Stichting Oer-IJ organises a short walk from Museumgemaal 1879 at 1:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.

Festivals and Regional Specialities

The Bloemendagen take place every spring in Limmen; the event is free to attend. Mosaics and creations made from hyacinth flowers are displayed in residents' gardens throughout the village. The marked Bloemendagen route through Limmen is approximately eight kilometres long and can be walked. Historisch Limmen also has a historical timeline with 26 panels, officially opened on 18 April 2026, guiding visitors through the history of Limmen.

In the centre of Castricum, a weekly market is held every Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Dorpsstraat. Fresh products such as cheese, nuts, vegetables and stroopwafels are available. Regional products from the municipality of Castricum include fresh fish from the Alkmaardermeer, organic raw milk from the farm, locally brewed beer and flour from the mill.

In Akersloot, the Korenmolen de Oude Knegt grinds flour when the weather is favourable. It is sold in the mill shop on Wednesdays and Saturdays; the Akersloter kruidenlikeur is also available there.

Routes through the Municipality

The Schulpvaartroute is an approximately 31-kilometre audio tour through pasture landscapes, along old waterways and through natural areas and village centres. It passes mills and follows old dyke routes. Twenty-two cycling routes are offered for the municipality of Castricum and the region; bicycles can be rented.

Hildes rondje is a three-kilometre walk around Huis van Hilde through the area surrounding the museum. The children's farm 't Dierenduintje can be visited free of charge; among other animals, it is home to goats, rabbits, geese and pigs.

To the main travel overview: North Holland.

More Destinations

More places in the same destination:

Den Helder, Hollands Kroon, Wijdemeren, Landsmeer.