9x sun, sea and beach: on the Dutch coast

You can do that all in the Netherlands at Stayokay! The 500-km-long coastline of the Netherlands has everything you need for a wonderful sun, sea and beach holiday. Tick off the list below!

Are you one of those people who think that you've first got to earn that cocktail at the beach club? Then this bike ride through the Noord Holland Dune Reserve is for you! The diversity of dunes and forest makes this a beautiful area to discover by bike. And well ... do you still have some strength left in those calves of yours? Then Stayokay Heemskerk is about a half-hour bike ride from the nature reserve.

Fancy catching a wave? One of the best places to toss your board into the sea is on the boundary of Zandvoort and Bloemendaal aan Zee, where you'll find surf school Surfana at the Rapa Nui beach restaurant. So, even if you're not much of a surf expert yet, you're still in the right place here! Want to get there early? Our hostel in Haarlem is located nearby so you'll be up bright and early on the shoreline.

The Netherlands has lots of fun and friendly beach pavilions. Where, with your bare feet in the sand, you can watch the sun sink into the sea in the evening and enjoy local delicacies. And of course, fresh fish should accompany that! One of the top locations is Strandpaviljoen Nautilus aan Zee (near Stayokay Egmond) where you can hang around both indoors and outdoors.

It's lovely on the beach, but the small towns and villages definitely have their own charm too. What about Middelburg? You will be surprised by the imposing monuments, elegant façades and medieval streets in the capital of Zeeland. And from Middelburg, it's just a short drive to the seaside resort of Domburg, where you'll find our hostel for a wonderful overnight stay.

You probably know what beach combing is all about, but have you ever heard of 'korren' - as in dredging? You can do this on the beach near Stayokay Noordwijk. Armed with a net, a rod and a board, you then head out to sea to see for yourself what's living in the North Sea. All of you drag the large net through the sea. Plaice, shrimp, dab, sea trout, turbot... What's the catch of the day? You can see this together with a nature guide.

The Netherlands boasts a few gems when it comes to characteristic lighthouses. They were built in the olden days near cliffs and harbours to warn ships at night during stormy weather. One of the oldest lighthouses in our country is the J.C.J. van Speijk tower close to Stayokay Egmond. Did you know that this tower is still active? Definitely worth a visit!

Fun fact: The Netherlands has its own Big 5! You don't have to go to the jungle far away, because you can track down wild animals in our own nature. Wisents, Scottish Highlanders, wild horses, deer and seals: which ones will you bump into in this over 7,300-hectare dune area? Hire your bicycle from Stayokay Haarlem and ask for the most beautiful routes in the Kennemer Dunes.

You don't really need to travel to tropical waters or the high seas to see seahorses or gigantic sharks. Take a trip around the world at the Zee Aquarium close to Egmond and discover more than 300 species of fish, from stingrays to piranhas. Who dares to pat a stingray on the head at the Roggenrif?

If you go on a beach holiday for the fresh ocean breeze, well, there's no better place than our own country, the Netherlands. Accept a new challenge with a kite­surfing lesson at Vertigo on the coast of Zeeland, close to Stayokay Domburg. Put on your wetsuit and off you go into the water with your board and kite. Naturally, a real professional is standing by to help you. Is this just a bit too wild for you or would you like to do something different? You could also go wind­surfing, kayaking, kite buggying and surf rafting.

AND, STAYING THE NIGHT?

You can do that at one of the following top locations...

Would you rather stay the night on the Wadden Islands, in the midst of nature or maybe in the city?

Check out all locations