Fun outings on the coast

It is actually bizarre to consider that, especially the Dutch coastal areas, are actually below sea level. Despite centuries of struggle against the water, the Dutch love the coast. Even our eastern neighbors know our coastal towns well. We love going to the beach, but there is much more to experience along the coast.

Battle against the water

Everyone has heard of the 1953 flood disaster. Maybe you even experienced it as a child. The Watersnoodramp is the largest natural disaster the Netherlands has experienced in the 20th century. A combination of a severe northwest storm and spring tide caused dikes to breach and entire areas to flood. This disaster killed 1,836 people. To prevent such natural disasters in the future, various measures have been taken. One such measure is the Delta Works. Part of the Delta Works is the Oosterscheldekering. Neeltje Jans is part of this. This theme park in Zeeland is incredibly interesting to visit.

In the Nieuwe Waterweg near Hoek van Holland you will find the Maeslantkering. No flood barrier in the world has larger movable parts! This Delta work can also handle a tidal wave of 5 meters above NAP. The Maeslantkering can be visited and in addition to being informative, it is also a lot of fun. Children also find this a very enjoyable outing. The north of our country has been protected from sea water by the Afsluitdijk for 90 years. The Afsluitdijkwaddencenter tells you all about this. You can also enjoy a bite to eat and drink there.

Working with the sea

Our country has been battling the water for years, but since 2011 we have also had an innovative project underway in which we have actually entered into cooperation with the sea: The Sand Motor. Off the coast of Kijduin, a peninsula has been created according to the principle of Building with Nature. For this purpose, 21.5 cubic meters of sand were used. The wind and currents spread the sand along the coast in the direction of the dunes. In this way, the coast is strengthened in a natural way and a nature and recreation area is immediately created. The Sand Motor is a wonderful place for nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts.

Learn all about the ports of Rotterdam

For anyone interested in the rhythms and sails of Rotterdam’s ports, Futureland is the place to be. You can find Futureland on the Second Maasvlakte. Besides various exhibitions, you can also get a tour in the Futureland Express and take a cruise in the Futureland Ferry. Complete your visit with a bike or scavenger hunt. Really fun for young and old alike. A port of a completely different caliber, but at least as much fun, is the port of Volendam. This ancient village lies on the Markermeer, which was once connected to the North Sea via the Zuiderzee. Volendam is best known for its fishing and costumes. The village is therefore very popular among tourists, but Dutch people also have a great time there!

Wadlopen

In the coastal areas in the north of the Netherlands you can walk across the mud flats. Wadlopen is only possible at low tide, as you understand, so it is vertstandig to join an organized tour as an inexperienced mudflat walker. The last thing you want is to be overwhelmed by the tide when you walk a long way from shore. There are many providers of mudflat tours on the coast, so there is plenty of choice. Some providers include: Wadlopen Pieterburen, which includes oyster tours, multi-day mudflat tours and children’s tours that can be booked, Dijksta Wadlooptochten that includes a seal package and Wadloopcentrum Fryslân that offers mudflat tours for every level.

Nice and sporty by the sea

The beach and the sea are perfect for active and sporting activities. The Hague Beach Stadium offers all kinds of sports along and in the water for all ages. These include beach volleyball, supping, bodyboarding and the ABZee workshop Safe Swimming in the Sea. At The Sand Company, you can do all kinds of things! Yoga, surfing, powerkiting, Expedition Robinson games and tandem biking. On the beach of Ter Heijde you can learn to surf at Dreams Surfschool and Strandheem provides the best beach games in the north of the Netherlands, like the games of The Hunger Games. Only here there are fortunately no deaths.

Most beautiful beaches and dune areas

With so many kilometers of coast, there is always a place by the sea. But some beaches stand out when it comes to beauty. We explored for you earlier and these are our favorites. A walk through the dunes always does a person good. And sometimes you come across a surprise! At the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes, there is a very good chance that you will encounter deer. Hollandse Duinen National Park is known for its fox population and you may just run into a Scottish Highlander. Rabbits and land goats are also animals that enjoy spending time in the dunes!

Other nice trips to the coast

Going to the coast to relax and enjoy the sun? At one of these beach bars you will certainly succeed. For example at Strandpaviljoen Hargen, the perfect starting point for cycling or walking trips. Extend your day at the beach with a night on the beach. Fall asleep with the murmur of the sea in the background, how nice is that? Especially in these nice beach accommodations.

Credits photos: OpstapmetLisa and www.canva.com