Quieter North Sea Coast

IJmuiden aan Zee

This expanse of sandy shore is the widest beach in the Netherlands. That much space means it's rarely as crowded as other coastal towns in summer. Venture beyond the main access areas to be rewarded with empty stretches of strand. On windy days (common here) this beach is popular for kite-flying and windsurfing.

Don't be put off by the industrial areas you'll see on the nearby Noordzeekanaal (North Sea Canal); the Kennemerstrand at IJmuiden has received 'Blue Flag' status no less than 11 times. The eco-label is awarded to beaches who meet strict environmental and water-quality standards.

Explore a seaside national park

Just north of Bloemendaal lies the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, a respite of natural beauty on an ocean-side edge of the Randstad region. Walk or bike through protected peat polders and duinen (dunes), home to unique flora and fauna like sand lizards, songbirds and roe deer. Edged by billowy sea grasses, you'll find plenty of unspoiled sandy space to relax on the shoreline. If you want to feel a million miles from the city for a little longer, try the Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg, a country-house hotel and restaurant adjacent to the park.

Wijk aan Zee

The close-knit community of Wijk aan Zee makes for a lovely laid-back day at the beach.  Soak up the scene from the comfort of cushy pillow seats in the sand at sleek Sun Sea Bar. Timboektoe has something for everyone, from live music every Saturday to children's sand sculpture contests and yoga on Sundays. Adventure-hungry? You can even go paragliding here.

Heemskerk area beaches

If you're seeking even more peace on a piece of the shore, rent a bike in the town of Beverwijk and head to the dune-lined landscape west of Heemskerk. Inaccessible to motorized vehicles, the beach here is quiet, relaxed and visited mostly by locals or nearby campsite visitors on foot and bike. There is a small, laid-back beach pavilion called De Vrijheit that welcomes anyone who's made the effort to find this quieter part of the coast.

Reach the beach

Reaching IJmuiden and Wijk aan Zee can include a fun experience on the 'Fast Flying Ferry' run by Connexxion, a bright green and yellow boat that reaches 65 kilometres per hour. Board the vessel behind Amsterdam Centraal Station, heading for Velsen Zuid.

• To get to Zuid-Kennemerland National park, take the train from Amsterdam to Haarlem Centraal Station. Take Bus 81 (direction Zandvoort) to the Kennemerduinen stop. Find information on the dune forests, lakes and dozens of trails at the Duincentrum De Zandwaaier information center. (Trip time: 45 minutes.)

• To get to IJmuidenjust show your ferry ticket to board the seasonal Connexxion 'Beach Bus'. (Trip time: 45 minutes.)

• To get to Wijk aan Zee, take Bus 74 from Velsen (direction Heemskerk) to the Station NS stop in Beverwijk. From there take Bus 78 (direction Wijk aan Zee) to the Julianaplein stop. Walk to the beach! (Trip time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.)