For the past year, travel across Europe has been resurrected due to the pandemic. While it’s been frustrating to not be able to explore Europe while living abroad as an expat, it’s also introduced me to travel within the Netherlands. A year ago, I would have been booking beach trips to France and Italy. Now, I’m exploring Dutch beaches.
While you might not immediately equate the Netherlands with beaches (Amsterdam and tulip fields probably come to mind first), there is a surprising number of good beaches. The Dutch coast stretches all along one side of the country and provides a sandy (and occasionally sunny) escape from the city.
For my birthday, we booked a beach house in the Hook of Holland to get away with some friends and our pup, Jolene. We were very impressed with the beach house and really enjoyed the escape. The Hook of Holland (or in Dutch, Hoek van Holland) is just 30 minutes outside Rotterdam and a little over an hour drive from Amsterdam. It’s a cute little beach town right by the port where the ferry to and from the UK docks.
Keep reading for my Hook of Holland guide so you can book your own Dutch beach weekend.
Xx, Kelsey
WHEN WE WENT
We booked our long weekend in the Hook of Holland for the last weekend of March. The main reason for this is that it falls during the off-season when dogs are allowed on the beach. We wanted to bring Jolene and let her experience the beach for the first time. During the high season (April-October) dogs aren’t allowed on the beach, so keep that in mind if you’ve got a pet!
It was quite cold and windy during our trip, but that’s to be expected in March. If you’re looking for a true summer beach experience, I’d suggest visiting the Hook of Holland during July or August. It’s never easy to predict what the weather will be like in the Netherlands, but you’re more likely to get sunny summer days during these months.
HOW WE GOT THERE
While it is possible to take public transportation, we decided to rent a car and drive. The drive was about an hour and a half with traffic. The beach property had parking available, and it was nice to have the car for trips into town for provisions.
There are definitely trains that come near to the Hook of Holland, but they require several transfers. We decided this would be too difficult with Jolene. Keep in mind, you’ll either have to take a bus or uber from the final train station to the beach itself.
WHERE WE STAYED
I was very impressed by the Largo Beach Villas that I found through some research. I was looking for a place directly on the beach that was dog-friendly. There are a series of beach houses all down the coast, and each one is split to house two families. We had two bedrooms, a complete kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, two balconies, and naturally a view of the sea.
The house was ideal for two couples and the dog. I wouldn’t probably squeeze any more people in, even though there’s a folding couch. The best part of the house was definitely the sea views and the balconies on both floors. They would be the perfect place to hang during summer months.
WHERE WE ATE
Normally, I’d fill this Hook of Holland guide with a list of places to eat. Due to covid-19, most of the beach bars were closed for anything other than coffee or takeaway. We spent the majority of time cooking in the house, which was actually very enjoyable. There’s an Albert Heijn in town which made it very easy to quickly run out for ingredients. The places we did pick up from were:
Beach Club The Bing – We stopped here to grab coffees during our morning walk with Jolene. It was really nice to walk with a warm cup, especially when it’s so cold.
Fish@thebeach – For our Saturday lunch, the boys ran up to this fish and chips spot. It did not disappoint! Very fresh fish and delicious fries. If you’re staying at one of the beach houses, I’d recommend bringing a lemon and some ketchup. In typical Dutch fashion, the fish and chips came with a side of mayonnaise.
We did order delivery one night, and I just want to caution you all that it was not worth it. These smaller beach towns don’t always have the highest quality cuisine. Our dinner was not very good and slathered in mayo. May work for some, but our American palettes didn’t find it so appetizing. I’d recommend cooking as much as possible if the beach bars aren’t open. Hopefully we can go back again so I can update this Hook of Holland guide with some great restaurants to eat at.
WHAT WE DID
It was incredibly windy on our weekend in the Hook of Holland. So much that we didn’t leave the house very often. That being said, it was a really great trip. Here’s what we did:
Played games
Our friends packed Cards Against Humanity (EU) and the phone game Heads Up. We also played some games that we’d learned from various friends. Highly recommend bringing a bunch of games with you for the evenings, even if the weather is nice.
Lounged around
I think our whole group was in need of a break from constantly working. We spent a good portion of the days lounging around reading, writing or watching TV. It was actually really nice.
Walked the pier
This was quite the adventure with 28mph winds, but we walked all the way out to the end of the pier and back. It’s really just a concrete and rock jetty, but it was neat to go all the way out and see the boats coming in and out of port.
Walked the beach
This was where bringing Jolene was totally worth it. She LOVED the sand, so we spent a lot of time running around on the beach with her. It was a great place to let her off leash to play for a bit. If it had been less windy, I’m sure we would have spent a lot more time walking up and down the coast. The nice thing about Dutch beaches is they’re huge and sandy, leaving lots of room to walk and explore.
Drank good wine
A weekend with friends isn’t complete without a few bottles of good wine. We brought several with us, but there’s a Gall & Gall in town if you need to pick some up.
WOULD WE GO AGAIN
Absolutely. In fact, we’re thinking of booking the same house again for this summer. It’s a perfect weekend escape and would be so nice in warmer weather. Plus, I’d love to add more recommendations to my Hook of Holland guide once things are actually open. If you’re thinking of going this summer, make sure to book soon. These houses goes quickly during the better months!
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Outfit 1: H&M coat (EU) | Sweater is very old J. Crew | Zara jeans (EU) | Ralph Lauren cap (Available in a different color here in the US) | Converse sneakers (EU)
Outfit 2: Zara sweater (EU) | H&M jeans (EU)
Outfit 3: H&M sweater (EU only) | Zara jeans (EU) | Quay sunglasses
