IJmuiden: Dunes, Bunkers and Harbour

For your planning, it is worth considering the balance of nature, activity, coast and culture that you are looking for. This allows you to choose your accommodation based on the experiences you want to shape your stay.

Dunes, forest and trails for active days

In the immediate vicinity of IJmuiden lies Heerenduinen, part of Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland. High dunes and old oak forests characterise the area; sightings of deer, foxes, Konik horses and Scottish Highland cattle are possible. The Heerenduinen circular walk is 4.5 km long, takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and begins at the Heerenduinen entrance. Alongside nature observation, this provides a clearly defined route for an active but manageable part of the day.

The routes through IJmuiden also offer different points of focus. The 5.5 km Oud-IJmuiden-Erbeweg passes historic and culturally significant sites in Oud-IJmuiden. “IJmuiden van Dudok” is a walking route through the centre of IJmuiden. The “Rondje IJmuiden” route takes walkers and cyclists through the municipality of Velsen, passing notable Atlantic Wall sites in and around the harbour as well as in the dunes. The lighthouses of IJmuiden are round, reddish-brown cast-iron towers designed by Quirinus Harder.

Bunkers and fortifications as special experiences

The military history comes to life at the BunkerMuseum IJmuiden: it consists of six furnished bunkers where volunteers answer questions and provide detailed information. The two-hour bunker excursion, led by an experienced guide, takes you through the dune area along Batterij Heerenduin and the Olmen anti-aircraft position. This gives you the choice between independent routes and a guided, in-depth experience.

Another prominent historical site is Forteiland IJmuiden. The fort is the largest fort of the Stelling van Amsterdam. It is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its long system of passageways includes more than forty rooms. Forteiland IJmuiden can be reached by boat from IJmuiden. The combination of its size, sequence of rooms and separate journey gives the exploration a distinctly different character from the routes in the dune area.

IJmuiden’s harbour, lock and beach

At the water’s edge, the Zeesluis IJmuiden defines the town. A guided visit begins at the IJmuider Zee- en Havenmuseum and then continues to the lock complex. The Zeesluis is 500 metres long, 70 metres wide and 18 metres deep; it is described as the largest sea lock in the world. The tour covers approximately 4 km on the lock complex. Cars may drive as far as the Middensluis, while bicycles are allowed throughout the entire lock complex.

Choose a holiday apartment in IJmuiden based on your experiences

The extensive beach of IJmuiden is suitable for sand yachting with buggies, sunbathing and walking. This provides a simple guide for choosing a holiday apartment in IJmuiden: focus on the beach and activities, on routes through nature and the centre, or on harbour and fortification history. The different types of routes and experiences allow you to combine active, culture-focused and quieter days according to your interests.

Discover more places

More destinations for your travel planning: Santpoort-Noord, Velsen-Zuid, Driehuis, Velsen-Noord.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Velsen.