Wijk aan Zee
Photos from Google
Wedged between the Tata Steel works, the North Sea and the Noordhollands Duinreservaat lies a village of just over 2,200 inhabitants, boxed in on all but one side by a single road. Wijk aan Zee has been part of the municipality of Beverwijk since 1936 and has a beach with fifteen beach clubs.
- Beach clubs
- 14
- Avg. rating
- 4.3 / 5
- Nearest station
- Beverwijk (5.8 km)
Blue Flag beach 2026
What is the Blue Flag?
The village was once independent, together with Wijk aan Duin, under the name Wijk aan Zee en Duin. That history explains the compact centre with narrow streets that begins just behind the beach. From the Julianaplein it is a few minutes' walk to the boulevard and the sand.
Its position against the dune reserve makes the beach easy to reach for walkers and cyclists coming from the dunes. To the north the beach borders the Tata Steel industrial site, which shapes the view in that direction. To the south the coastline continues towards IJmuiden aan Zee, 4.5 kilometres away.
The fifteen beach clubs cover a broad range, from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner. The average rating of the beach clubs is 4.3 out of 5. The atmosphere ranges from relaxed to lively, with several venues focused on careful cooking and service.
Dogs are welcome at several venues, and during the winter months the beach offers plenty of space to walk your dog. Families will find a wide sandy beach and beach clubs with facilities for children. If you come by car, there is parking within walking distance; you will find the rates and numbers in the parking overview on this page.
By public transport you travel to Beverwijk station. From there you continue by bus or bicycle. Other nearby seaside resorts are IJmuiden aan Zee, Castricum aan Zee at 6.7 kilometres and Bloemendaal at almost 10 kilometres.
The beach is used all year round, with a livelier feel in the summer months. Water-sports enthusiasts make use of the wind along this stretch of coast, and several operators keep their beach clubs open outside the high season too. The combination of dunes, village and sea makes Wijk aan Zee a place where you can happily spend a whole day.
Great for
The wide sandy beach shelves gently and lies a short walk from both the village and the dunes. Several of the fifteen beach clubs cater to families with family-friendly facilities and a lunch menu.
Dogs are welcome at several beach clubs. During the winter months, and outside daytime hours in summer, your dog may come onto the beach on a lead.
Some of the beach clubs serve dinner with a view of the North Sea. The atmosphere ranges from relaxed to refined, with attention to service and cooking.
Lunch is available at almost every venue, alongside breakfast and brunch. After a walk through the dunes you can sit down straight away.
Several beach clubs have space for groups and are suitable for a corporate outing. The position against the dune reserve makes an active programme with a walk or cycle ride easy to arrange.
When it rains or blows, you can take shelter in the beach clubs with covered space. The compact village centre is a few minutes' walk away and offers an alternative when the beach itself is less inviting.
Season & atmosphere
In the summer months the beach at Wijk aan Zee is at its busiest, with visitors from the village and the region around Beverwijk and IJmuiden. The beach clubs run at full capacity and the offering ranges from breakfast to dinner.
The wind along this coast draws water-sports enthusiasts all year round. In spring and autumn the beach is quieter, while several operators stay open.
Outside the high season the character shifts towards walkers and dog owners, who can make wider use of the beach in winter. The dunes of the Noordhollands Duinreservaat lie directly behind the village and are popular throughout the year.
If you want to avoid the crowds, your best bet is to come outside the summer holidays and away from fine-weather weekends. On Sundays and public holidays in summer, the village and its surroundings can fill up, partly because of the single access road to Wijk aan Zee.
Practical
Save for one access road, Wijk aan Zee is hemmed in between Tata Steel, the sea and the dunes. On busy summer days this can lead to delays getting in and out, so come early.
Parking is available within walking distance of the beach, partly for a fee. You will find the current rates and the number of spaces in the parking overview on this page.
By public transport you travel to Beverwijk station. From the station a bus runs towards the village; on fine days a bicycle is a pleasant alternative.
The beach borders the Noordhollands Duinreservaat, so a walk or cycle ride through the dunes combines well with a visit to the beach. Bear in mind that the dune reserve sometimes requires an entry ticket.
If you want to dine at one of the beach clubs on a summer evening, book ahead. The average rating of the venues is 4.3 out of 5, but capacity is limited on busy evenings. Also check the opening hours outside the high season, as not every venue is open daily then.
Nearest station: Beverwijk Plan your journey →
From Beverwijk station it is ±5,8 km on foot to the beach (±70 min). A bus or car gets you there faster.Beach rules & zones
On the beach at Wijk aan Zee, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 1 October between 09.00 and 19.00. Outside those hours, and during the period from 1 October to 1 May, your dog is welcome.
A lead requirement and a clean-up requirement apply all year round. Guide dogs are exempt from the ban.
Users of a beach cabin may keep their dog on a lead in the immediate vicinity of the cabin. These rules are set out in the APV Beverwijk 2024; check the current provisions with the municipality of Beverwijk before your visit.
The beach itself is wide and shelves gently. To the north it borders the Tata Steel industrial site, which shapes the view on that side. To the south the coastline continues towards IJmuiden aan Zee. The fifteen beach clubs are spread along the boulevard, a short distance from the village centre and the dunes.
Horse riding on the beach
On the beach at Wijk aan Zee, horses are not permitted from 1 May to 1 October between 9.00 and 19.00; outside these times horse-riding is permitted. A permit is required for offering horses on a commercial basis.
Parking
1 marked as paid, 21 with no fee info. Tap a pin for the name and directions.
Parking payment details come from OpenStreetMap and may be incomplete. Please check locally.
Nearby seaside resorts
Last updated: 23 June 2026