Wijk aan Zee
Photos from Google
Between the steelworks of Tata Steel, the North Sea and the Noordhollands Duinreservaat lies a village of just over 2,200 inhabitants, hemmed in on all but one side. Wijk aan Zee has been part of the municipality of Beverwijk since 1936 and has a beach with fifteen beach clubs.
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, you reach the promenade and the sand in a few minutes' walk.
Its position against the dune reserve makes the beach easy to reach for walkers and cyclists coming from the dunes. On the northern side, the beach borders the industrial site of Tata Steel, 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 wide range, from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner. The average rating of the beach clubs is 4.3 out of 5. The atmosphere varies from relaxed to lively, with several venues focusing on a refined kitchen and attentive service.
Dogs are welcome at several venues, and in the winter months the beach offers ample space to walk your dog. Families will find a broad sandy beach and beach clubs with facilities for children. If you arrive 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, 4.8 kilometres away. From there, you continue by bus or bicycle. Other seaside resorts nearby 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 character in the summer months. Watersports enthusiasts make the most 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 stay all day.
Great for
The broad sandy beach slopes gently and lies within a short walk of 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. In the winter months, and outside daytime hours in summer, your dog may join you on 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 care given to service and the kitchen.
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 offer space for groups and are well suited to a corporate outing. The setting against the dune reserve makes an active programme with a walk or a cycle ride possible.
When it rains or the wind picks up, you can settle into the beach clubs with covered space. The compact village centre is a few minutes' walk away and offers an alternative when the beach itself feels less inviting.
In the summer months, the beach at Wijk aan Zee is at its busiest, with visitors from the village and the wider region around Beverwijk and IJmuiden. The beach clubs run at full capacity, with offerings ranging from breakfast to dinner.
The wind along this coast draws watersports 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 have more freedom to use the beach in winter. The dunes of the Noordhollands Duinreservaat lie directly behind the village and are popular all year.
If you want to avoid the crowds, it is best 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.
Parking
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Nearby seaside resorts
Last updated: 23 June 2026