Heemskerk
Photos from Google
The beach at Heemskerk lies at the end of a road through the dunes, with a single beach club as the only permanent place to eat and drink on the sand. That makes the beach easy to take in and quiet compared with the busier seaside resorts further along the coast.
- Beach clubs
- 1
- Avg. rating
- 4.4 / 5
- Nearest station
- Castricum (5.9 km)
The municipality of Heemskerk has just over 39,000 residents and sits in Midden-Kennemerland in Noord-Holland. The town centre itself lies a few kilometres inland; you reach the beach through the dune area at Heemskerkerduin. Between the village and the sea is a broad belt of dunes that forms part of the Noord-Holland coastal region.
The atmosphere on the beach is relaxed. With just one beach club it is less busy than at Wijk aan Zee or Castricum, and anyone looking for space to walk will find it here. The beach is wide and slopes gently down to the sea, which makes it suitable for families and walkers.
The beach club serves both lunch and dinner. The average rating comes out at 4.4 out of 5, which points to steady appreciation among visitors. Because the options are limited to a single venue, booking ahead in high season and in fine weather is worth doing.
Heemskerk lies close to other seaside resorts. Wijk aan Zee is 3.8 kilometres away, Castricum aan Zee 4 kilometres and IJmuiden aan Zee 7.6 kilometres. So anyone wanting more choice in places to eat or in facilities can easily switch to a neighbouring beach.
The nearest train station is Castricum. From the station you can cover the final stretch to the beach by bike or car; public transport right up to the sand is limited. If you come by car, there is parking at the beach entrance; for the current situation, check the parking overview on this page.
The dune area behind the beach lends itself to walks and bike rides, including outside the beach season. That makes Heemskerk a destination not just in summer, but also in the quieter months for anyone heading to the coast.
Great for
The wide beach slopes gently down to the sea and is easy to take in thanks to its calm. With one beach club within walking distance, food and drink are close at hand, without the crowds of larger seaside resorts.
Outside the beach season this is a good spot for walking your dog, as dogs are then welcome on the sand without any time restrictions. In the summer months there are set hours during the day when they are not allowed; see the beach zones for the exact rules.
The beach club also serves in the evening and looks out over the sea, with the sunset on the western side. Because capacity is limited, booking a table for dinner is sensible.
For lunch you can head to the beach club, which provides both lunch and dinner. The average rating of 4.4 points to steady appreciation among visitors.
With one beach club and a quiet beach, this suits a smaller group wanting to get a little away from the crowds. For larger parties or more choice, Wijk aan Zee is 3.8 kilometres away.
In rain or wind the beach club offers a spot indoors, but the options are limited to this one venue. For more choice in poor weather you can switch to Castricum or IJmuiden aan Zee.
Season & atmosphere
In high season, from June through to August, the beach at Heemskerk is at its busiest, though with just the one beach club it stays quieter than the neighbouring beaches. In fine summer weather, booking a table is worth doing.
The shoulder seasons, in spring and early autumn, mainly draw walkers and cyclists who combine the dune area with the beach. Temperatures are milder then and the sand is less busy.
In the winter months the beach is quiet and open for long walks. Dogs are then allowed without time restrictions, which makes the coast appealing from October to May for dog owners.
Because Heemskerk has no large seaside events venue, its character stays calm all year round. Anyone looking for more buzz or festivities will find it sooner in Wijk aan Zee or IJmuiden aan Zee.
Practical
The nearest station is Castricum. Public transport does not reach the sand, so plan for an onward trip by bike or car for the final stretch.
If you come by car, there is parking at the beach entrance. Check the current rates and availability via the parking overview on this page, as it can fill up in high season.
There is only one beach club. If you want to be sure of a spot for lunch or dinner, book ahead, especially on summer days and at the weekend.
Bring plenty of water and sun protection, as the range of facilities is more limited than at busier beaches. For more choice in places to eat or shops, Wijk aan Zee and Castricum aan Zee are within four kilometres.
If you come with your dog, bear in mind the seasonal rules: not allowed during the day in the summer months, but permitted outside those hours and through the winter half of the year. The route through the dunes to the beach is good for a walk beforehand or afterwards.
Nearest station: Castricum Plan your journey →
From Castricum station it is ±5,9 km on foot to the beach (±69 min). A bus or car gets you there faster.Beach rules & zones
For dogs, a seasonal arrangement applies on the beach at Heemskerk. From 1 May to 1 October, dogs are not allowed on the beach between 09.00 and 19.00. Outside those hours, so early in the morning and in the evening, they are allowed during that period.
From 1 October to 1 May, dogs are welcome on the beach all day, without any time restrictions. The winter half of the year is therefore the most open period for anyone wanting to walk their dog. This arrangement is set out in the local bye-law of the municipality of Heemskerk; if in doubt, check the current rules with the municipality.
The beach itself is wide and slopes gently down to the sea. Behind the beach is a dune area that connects to the Noord-Holland coastal region and is suitable for walks.
Specific marked-out zones such as a naturist beach are not listed for Heemskerk in the available data. For the exact layout of the beach, you can check the signage at the beach entrance on site.
Horse riding on the beach
In the municipality of Heemskerk, horse-riding on the beach is regulated through the APV (art. 5:40, Animals) and a summer regime similar to Wijk aan Zee is expected to apply. The exact dates and times could not be verified from the official APV text - please consult the municipality's current rules.
Nearby seaside resorts
Last updated: 23 June 2026