Holiday apartment in Katwijk aan Zee – beach, dunes and art

Katwijk aan Zee combines beaches, dunes and a remarkable history of art and the town. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Katwijk aan Zee, you can base your choice of location on these three holiday themes: sea and relaxation, nature, or museums and historic buildings. There are also destinations in the surrounding area and the wider region, giving this coastal town a range of different excursion options.

Beach and dunes as holiday highlights

You can enjoy sunshine, the sea and relaxation on Katwijk beach. People with disabilities can access Katwijk beach via paved beach paths or with a special beach wheelchair. When choosing your holiday apartment in Katwijk aan Zee, it may therefore be important to consider whether the beach is your main focus or whether you also want to plan cultural and nature destinations.

Katwijk and the dunes are part of Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen. The coastal town therefore represents both the sea and a landscape of wider regional significance. Those who enjoy switching between peaceful moments on the beach and nature experiences will find a clear basis here for choosing their personal holiday highlights.

Art and history on the coast

Katwijk has been known as an artists’ village since 1873. The Katwijks Museum displays paintings by Bernardus Johannes Blommers, Willy Sluiter, Jan van Goyen and Jan Toorop. It also has an extensive collection on the fishing heritage and is housed in a former shipowner’s house dating from the early 20th century.

The Vuurbaak is also known as the Vierboet. After the Brandaris, it is the second-oldest surviving lighthouse building in the Netherlands. The Vuurbaak is 14 metres high, and its viewing platform is approximately 30 metres above sea level. The Andreaskerk was built in 1460 and now stands on the coastline after several storms caused the dunes to recede. Together, the two buildings show how closely Katwijk connects its coast with historical landmarks.

Destinations in the surrounding area

Oud Poelgeest and Huis Zuidwijk are located near Katwijk aan Zee, and both are considered castles. The Museum van Volkenkunde and the Molenmuseum de Valk are also nearby. In the wider region, you will find Avifauna bird park, a zoo. The immediate vicinity of Katwijk aan Zee also includes Boswachterij Wassenaar, Duinrell and Boswachterij Noordwijk; all three are parks.

The Kunstvereeniging Katwijk regularly organises activities. During the summer months, these include art workshops and art lectures associated with the DUNAatelier. The DUNAatelier presents changing exhibitions.

This creates a varied picture for a holiday apartment in Katwijk aan Zee: you can choose between the immediate coastal theme, the dunes, art and the history of the town, as well as destinations in the nearby and wider surrounding area.

For more ideas in the surrounding area, you can explore Valkenburg, Katwijk and Rijnsburg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Katwijk.