Sint Maartenszee
Photos from Google
Tucked behind the dunes between Petten and Callantsoog lies the hamlet of Sint Maartenszee, part of the municipality of Schagen in Noord-Holland. Two beach clubs serve the beach, which is reached via dune crossings.
This is a small seaside resort. People come here for the beach and the dunes, not for nightlife or a long boulevard lined with shops. Petten is 3.4 kilometres away, Callantsoog 4.4 kilometres and Grote Keeten 7.9 kilometres. That makes the area well suited to combining several beaches by bike.
The beach itself is wide and slopes gently down to the sea. Behind the foredune lies an area of dunes that forms part of the Noord-Holland dune belt. The combination of beach and dunes draws walkers and cyclists, even outside the high season.
The two beach clubs serve lunch and dinner. With an average rating of 4.4 out of 5, they sit at the upper end of what visitors typically rate. The choice is easy to take in: you can stop by for lunch by the sea during the day and stay on for dinner with a view of the surf in the evening.
Sint Maartenszee has a reputation for being family-friendly. The wide, gently sloping beach and the nearby beach clubs make it practical for families with young children. The dunes behind the beach offer shelter on windy days.
The nearest railway station is Schagen, 8.4 kilometres away. From there you can cover the final stretch by bus, bike or car. If you come by car, you will find parking within walking distance of the beach; the current rates and capacity are listed in the parking overview on this page.
The character of Sint Maartenszee is quiet compared with larger seaside resorts such as Egmond or Bergen aan Zee. There is no busy centre and no row of beach clubs. That makes it appealing for anyone who wants a day at the sea without the crowds, and for dog owners looking for space on the beach.
For all its coastal places, including Sint Maartenszee, the municipality of Schagen applies the same beach rules for dogs. So you know the rules here are the same as in neighbouring Callantsoog and Petten. If you combine the beach with a loop through the dunes, half a day is enough, but you can just as easily spend a full day here.
Great for
The beach is wide and slopes gently, which makes it easy to keep an eye on things for parents with young children. The beach clubs are within walking distance of the dune crossing, so popping back for lunch or a toilet visit stays quick. The dunes behind the foredune provide shelter on days with an offshore wind.
In the municipality of Schagen, dogs are welcome here all year round. From 1 April to 1 October, between 09.00 and 19.00 they must be kept on a lead of no more than 1.50 metres; outside those hours and during the winter season they may run free. Four sections of beach are designated where dogs may run free all year round. You must always clean up after your dog.
Both beach clubs serve dinner in the evening with a view of the sea. The calm of the resort means that, outside the high season, the beach is quiet in the evening. The sun sets here to the west, directly over the North Sea.
During the day you can stop by either beach club for lunch. With an average rating of 4.4 out of 5, the appreciation sits at the upper end. Being right on the beach, you can drop in between swims.
For a small-scale outing by the sea, the two beach clubs work well as a meeting and eating point. The beach and the dunes lend themselves to a walk or a beach activity nearby. For larger groups, it is wise to contact the beach club in advance about the options.
The choice on a bad-weather day is limited in Sint Maartenszee itself; the resort is small and has no covered centre. When it rains or the wind picks up, the beach clubs offer somewhere indoors to eat. For more options in poor weather, Schagen and Callantsoog are a short distance away.
In the high season, July and August, the beach is at its busiest. Even so, Sint Maartenszee stays quieter than the larger seaside resorts further along the coast, because there are only two beach clubs and no centre with cafes and restaurants.
The shoulder seasons, April to June and September, mainly draw walkers and cyclists who combine the beach with the dunes. At these times the beach is largely empty and the dune paths are easy to walk.
In winter it is quiet. The beach is then most popular with dog owners and beach walkers, as dogs may run free from 1 October to 1 April.
If you want to avoid the crowds, it is best to come outside the school holidays or to arrive early in the day. On warm days in July and August, the parking near the beach fills up over the course of the morning; if you arrive later, allow for some time spent looking for a space.
There are no major events in Sint Maartenszee itself. Its character stays the same all year round: a quiet seaside resort that relies on its beach and dunes.
Parking
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Last updated: 23 June 2026