Egmond aan Zee is a small resort where the dunes meet the North Sea, ten kilometres west of Alkmaar. The Van Speijk lighthouse (1834) sits above the boulevard and the beach runs uninterrupted for kilometres in both directions. It is a family-holiday town with a Dutch domestic-tourism feel — most of the guests in July drove here from Utrecht or Brabant, and the vibe is caravan parks, beach clubs, and fish shops rather than boutique hotels. Nightlife is one main street of terraces on Voorstraat that close around 1am at peak.
This suits families and anyone who wants a beach holiday without the F1-adjacent chaos of Zandvoort. The town is quieter, cheaper, and more residential-feeling. It does not suit anyone wanting cultural sights — Egmond aan den Hoef, the inland village a couple of kilometres east, has the ruined castle and the Abbey, but that is about it. Off-season (October-April) the beach clubs pack up and the town becomes very quiet, which some love and others find bleak.
Where to stay in Egmond aan Zee
The boulevard (Boulevard Zuid, Boulevard Ir. de Vassy) has the sea-view hotels at $110-$180. One or two blocks back on Trompstraat or Voorstraat drops to $85-$130 with easy beach access. There are many holiday apartment complexes — often better value than hotels for a family, from $130 for a two-bedroom. Golf Hotel is the top end at $180+. Book July-August at least six weeks ahead — this is a domestic-tourism destination and Dutch families lock in early.
Hotels in Egmond aan Zee
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Things to do in Egmond aan Zee
- Climb the Van Speijk lighthouseVuurtorenplein, weekend afternoons in summer, $5. Ninety-nine steps, views over the dunes to Alkmaar. Named after Jan van Speijk, a naval hero who blew up his own ship in 1831 to avoid Belgian capture. There is a small museum at the base.
- Beach and Strandslag pavilionsThe beach itself is free and vast. Beach clubs open May-October — Bad Nordeney, Zee Zicht, Golfzang. Rent a wind screen for $8 a day at the entrance if the North Sea wind is up (it usually is).
- Slot op den Hoef ruinsSlotweg, Egmond aan den Hoef, 3 km inland. Free, open dawn to dusk. Ruined 15th-century castle of the Egmond family in a small park. Combines well with the neo-Romanesque Abbey nearby — active Benedictine monastery, church and shop open daytime.
- Bike to Bergen through the dunesRent at Fietsverhuur Van der Bijl on Voorstraat ($12 a day) and follow the coastal cycle path north to Bergen aan Zee (6 km) or south to Castricum aan Zee (12 km). Flat, marked, empty of cars, entirely through dunes and pine woods.
Getting there & around
Start at the south end of the boulevard, walk north past the beach clubs, up the ramp to the Van Speijk lighthouse, into the dune paths behind the town, loop back through the Kennemer duinen along the crest for the views, and down through Voorstraat past the fish stalls and cafés.
No train station. Bus 165 from Alkmaar station, every 30 minutes, 25 minutes journey, $4.50. From Amsterdam, train to Alkmaar (32 min) then bus 165, total 65-75 minutes. Bus 165 also links to Bergen and Bergen aan Zee. Driving is easy and parking on the outskirts is $8 a day; boulevard parking is metered and full by 11am in July. From Schiphol, allow 80 minutes total.
Questions answered
Egmond aan Zee or Zandvoort for a beach holiday?
Egmond aan Zee is quieter, more family-oriented, and cheaper by $20-$40 a night. Zandvoort is livelier with more beach clubs and better nightlife, plus direct train to Amsterdam. If you want the beach and Amsterdam, Zandvoort. If you want just the beach and the North Sea coast, Egmond.
How cold is the sea and can you swim?
North Sea swimming season is really June to early September when water hits 17-19°C. July and August are the reliable months. Outside that, dune walks and beach strolls are the activity — the water is 8-12°C and dangerous with the currents. There are lifeguards in summer only.
Nearby areas
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