Photos from Google
The Hondsbossche Zeewering defines the look of Petten. Behind the village lies a reinforced line of dunes, fronted by a wide sandy beach that has been created over the past few years. Before that work, there was a bare dyke here; now there is a strip of sand with small dunes in front of it.
- Beach clubs
- 4
- Avg. rating
- 4.4 / 5
- Nearest station
- Schagen (13.2 km)
Blue Flag beach 2026
What is the Blue Flag?
Petten itself has around 1,605 inhabitants and belongs to the municipality of Schagen. For a long time it was an independent municipality, merged into Zijpe in 1929 and joined Schagen in 2013. The village is small and the buildings sit just behind the dyke.
There are two beach clubs on the beach. Both serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can drop in from morning until evening. The average rating works out at 4.3 out of 5. The atmosphere is geared towards families.
The beach at Petten is wide and slopes gently down to the sea. Thanks to the new sand, the strip is more spacious than at many other spots along this coast. That leaves room to settle down, even on busier days.
There are more seaside resorts a short distance away. Schoorl aan Zee is just over five kilometres away, Callantsoog almost eight kilometres and Bergen around eleven kilometres. If you want to see more than just Petten, you can easily combine these places.
Petten is mainly reached by car. The nearest station is Schagen, almost ten kilometres away. From there, a bus runs towards the coast. You can park within walking distance of the beach; check the parking overview on this page for current rates and locations.
Dogs are welcome at several beach clubs. For the rules on the beach itself, the arrangements of the municipality of Schagen apply, which are described below under the beach zones. The beach is well suited to a day out with the family, and the combination of dunes, dyke and wide sand makes a walk worthwhile.
Great for
The beach at Petten is wide and slopes gently down to the water, with room to play and to settle down. Both beach clubs cater to families and serve food all day, from breakfast to dinner.
Dogs are welcome at several beach clubs. On the beach, the rules of the municipality of Schagen apply. From 1 October to 1 April, dogs may be off the lead; in the summer months they must be on the lead during the day. See the beach zones below for the details.
Both beach clubs serve dinner, so you can stay and eat by the sea after sunset. One location is also available as a wedding venue, which shows there is room for a quieter evening at the table.
With two beach clubs serving lunch, a simple meal on the beach is easy to arrange. The average rating of 4.3 points to a welcoming reception.
A corporate outing is possible at the beach clubs in Petten. The wide beach and the space on the dyke give plenty of scope for outdoor activities, followed by a bite to eat indoors.
When it rains or the wind picks up, the two beach clubs offer a spot indoors where you can eat with a view of the sea. The Hondsbossche Zeewering and the dunes also lend themselves to a brisk walk in less favourable weather.
Season & atmosphere
In summer, the wide beach at Petten draws the most visitors. The combination of sand, dunes and the Hondsbossche Zeewering brings out walkers, sunbathers and families. On warm days it can get busy around the beach clubs.
Spring and late summer are quieter. The beach clubs are less crowded and the beach offers plenty of space. For those who want to avoid the crowds, these are good months for a visit.
In winter, the character changes. The wind often blows straight onto the coast and the sea defence lies open and bare. It is then mainly a place for brisk walks along the water and over the dyke.
The on-the-lead season for dogs runs from 1 April to 1 October. Outside that period, dogs may be off the lead on large parts of the beach, which makes the winter months appealing if you are coming with your dog.
Bear in mind that the number of facilities in Petten is limited. With two beach clubs, the choice is smaller than in the larger seaside resorts further along the coast.
Practical
If you come by car, you will find parking within walking distance of the beach. The exact locations and rates are listed in the parking overview on this page.
Petten is harder to reach by public transport. The nearest station is Schagen, almost ten kilometres away. A bus runs from the station towards the coast; check the timetable in advance, as the frequency is limited outside the season.
The beach lies behind the Hondsbossche Zeewering. Bear in mind that the wind here is often strong; bring warm or windproof clothing, even in summer.
If you want to dine at a beach club, book ahead in high season. With only two clubs, capacity is limited on busy evenings.
One of the locations is available as a wedding venue, and there is room for a corporate outing. For both, contact the relevant beach club directly.
If you want to see more, combine Petten with Schoorl aan Zee or Callantsoog; both are a short drive along the coast.
Nearest station: Schagen Plan your journey →
From Schagen station it is ±13,2 km on foot to the beach (±155 min). A bus or car gets you there faster.Beach rules & zones
The same rules for dogs apply throughout the municipality of Schagen, including Petten. From 1 April to 1 October, dogs must be on the lead between 09:00 and 19:00 on the beach and the access paths, with a lead no longer than 1.50 metres. Outside those hours and during the period from 1 October to 1 April, dogs may be off the lead.
In addition, there are four sections of beach where dogs may be off the lead all year round: between beach marker posts 8.1 and 9.4, between 10.5 and 11.1, between 14.5 and 17.1 and between 18.4 and 20. You must always clean up after your dog.
Check the current rules with the municipality of Schagen before you go, as the arrangements may change. The municipality publishes them on its website.
The beach at Petten lies behind the Hondsbossche Zeewering and has been widened in recent years with a new strip of sand. As a result, the strip is more spacious than at many other spots along this coast, and there is room to walk or to settle down.
Horse riding on the beach
In the municipality of Schagen (Callantsoog, Petten, Sint Maartenszee, Grote Keeten), during the bathing season (1 April to 1 October) it is prohibited from 9.00 to 19.00 to ride or lead a horse or other mount on the beach or the access paths. Outside that window, horse-riding is permitted.
Parking
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Nearby seaside resorts
Last updated: 23 June 2026