Noordwijk Zen staycation guide Netherlands – healing beaches, dunes, dahlias & wellness
Updated: 39 minutes ago
Looking for the perfect place to slow down and fully recharge, in other words become completely Zen? After a few demanding months, I found exactly what I needed last week in my own country, on a staycation in Noordwijk, an official healing seaside resort of the Netherlands.
We spent a mid-week in this lovely town by the sea, just a 45-minute drive from my home. It's also located on the Dutch coast, where we explored the wide beaches, dunes and dahlias, enjoyed wellness and sampled the region's excellent restaurants.
The fresh sea air, soft sand, wide dunes, classy venues and refined atmosphere of Noordwijk made this staycation ideal for a mindful reset focused on relaxation, nature and good food. But I also found out that this seaside resort has so much more to offer than just beaches and sand dunes.
Why Noordwijk feels different
I live by the sea myself, just a few meters from the dunes and quiet beaches of Kijkduin, but what sets Noordwijk apart from many other Dutch seaside resorts is its polished, almost continental character. While places like Scheveningen or Zandvoort can feel busy and day-trip oriented, Noordwijk developed a bit differently from the beginning.
Wide, well-maintained beaches, elegant boulevards (Koningin Wilhelmina and Koningin Astrid), stylish beach clubs and a strong wellness culture give it a distinctly refined feel.
High-end hotels, the nearby European Space Agency (ESTEC centre) and a long tradition of Spa and thalasso experiences add international elegance. The dunes of National Park Hollandse Duinen reach right up to the town, offering immediate access to nature without the concrete atmosphere of larger resorts.
Combined with the colourful flower fields of the Bollenstreek just inland, Noordwijk offers a unique mix of sea, dunes, flowers and quiet sophistication.
Find all tips for your own Noordwijk seaside getaway further on in this blog. I will share the restaurants we sampled, where to stay and many fun and relaxing activities, complemented with my own pictures, as always.
But first:
How to get to Noordwijk?
Noordwijk is easy to reach by car and public transport:
From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport it is only a 30-minute drive (approximately 30 km).
By public transport, take a train to Leiden or Sassenheim and continue by bus (line 361 or 400), which will take about an hour total. Direct buses also run from Schiphol.
And from Amsterdam or The Hague the trip takes around 45 minutes by car or a combination of train and bus.
A short history
Noordwijk’s story stretches back thousands of years, even to around 2000 BC. Once an important place of pilgrimage, subsequently in 1200 Noordwijk aan Zee became a fishing village and fishing remained the main livelihood together with herb-and flower growing, until the 19th century when tourism took off.
In 1866 the first bathers arrived, also with the help of the new steam tram, and Noordwijk officially became a seaside resort. Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin was one of the early establishments welcoming people wanting to experience the healing effects of seawater and sea air.
Inland, Noordwijkerhout (literally 'the wood of Noordwijk') developed on the older dune ridge and became closely linked to herb growing and later the famous bulb fields of the Bollenstreek.
Nowadays the municipality combines the lively seaside atmosphere of Noordwijk aan Zee, the historic charm of Noordwijk-Binnen and the flower-growing heritage of Noordwijkerhout, which makes a unique combination!
Official healing seaside resort
In 2020 Noordwijk received official recognition as a 'heilzame zeebadplaats' from the European Spas Association (ESPA). The high salt content of the seawater (over 3%), beneficial aerosols and magnesium in the sea air, abundant sunlight, the rhythm of the tides and negative ions, all contribute to a measurable sense of well-being.
Thalasso therapy: using the healing power of the sea, is central here. Simply walking the 13-kilometre beach, enjoying the nature of the dunes, breathing the pure air or listening to the surf helps lower stress, support the immune system and restore both body and mind.
If you are craving this too, I have the perfect Noordwijk itinerary to experience all this and become completely Zen in just one trip too.
Noordwijk staycation guide Netherlands
Where to stay?
Our base was Bungalowparck Tulp & Zee, a peaceful park of detached luxury bungalows set between the bulb fields and just a few hundred metres from the dunes and beach.
The freestanding 6-person bungalows (around 100 m²) offer 3 bedrooms, a comfortable living area, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, a washing machine, bathroom with shower and bath, private garden, covered veranda and 2 private parking spaces right next to your home away from home.
At the reception you can order fresh bread rolls, toppings and other groceries for the next morning.
And they are currently also finalizing 29 extra 160 m² bungalows to accommodate up to 8 people, some even with their own private sauna, which I will happily come back for next summer:)
Find all details to book your own stay on Bungalowparck Tulp & Zee and get an impression of the current bungalows in this gallery:
What makes this park extra special is the combination of privacy, space and location: surrounded by nature and flower fields, within easy walking distance of the dunes and sea.
But also far enough from the busier boulevard (10-minute drive away), yet close to the historic center of Noordwijkerhout, creating that quiet and rural atmosphere.
Getting around
You can rent e-bikes directly at the bungalow park or at Rent-a-Bike van Dam in Noordwijkerhout, like we did. This local family business has more than a century of cycling expertise and offers high-quality (e-)bikes, tandems and mountain bikes.
They provide free cycling maps of the dunes, beach and bulb region and deliver and pick-up the bikes on location within the municipality.
What to do: nature, flowers & wellness
Nature walks & cycling
Right next to the park lies the beautiful nature reserve Hollands Duin with many hiking and cycling trails. One of the most revitalizing routes here is the Malote Thalasso Duinroute, designed around the healing elements of the coast, which takes little over 1 hour.
A full overview of all walking routes can be found on: Noordwijk.info/walkingroutes.
September highlight: The Dahlia cycling route
In spring the Bollenstreek is famous for its tulips, but from August - October the region turns into a sea of colourful dahlias. The easiest way to experience this is by following the official Dahlia Fietsroute (approximately 36 km).
You can cycle the full loop or simply visit the highlights.
Find and download the exact route easily on: Dahlia Cycling Route.
If you only go for the highlights, like we did, 3 must-visit stops on the route are:
1. Dahlia gardens at Kasteel Keukenhof
More than 150 dahlia varieties bloom against the romantic backdrop of the 17th-century castle. Here you can walk the 240-hectare estate with landscaped parks, visit the small petting zoo and relax on the terrace of the Hofboerderij.
Parking and entrance to the gardens is free, and don't wait too long, as the dahlias usually bloom until start/mid October. Get an impression through this gallery with my own pictures:
2. De Tulperij
Impressive free show garden with over 600 varieties, the biggest offering in the Bollenstreek region. They also have a pick-your-own garden (you can pay per flower) and guided excursions are available upon reservation (for €9 p.p.) via De Tulperij, if you want to learn more about the flowers and growing process.
I especially love this spot for its many atmospheric in-and outdoor seating options, while they also offer delicious food and drinks!
They also have a shop, a children’s treasure hunt and are free to visit, open daily from 1 August - 11 October from 9.30–17.00.
3. I Love Dahlia pluktuin
This large organic show and pick-your-own garden has more than 500 dahlia varieties across 10,000 m². They offer limited cutting slots on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7-9 pm and Saturday from 9.30-4 pm. Get an impression through this gallery:
A full bucket (±25 stems) costs €24.95 including entry, coffee or tea and the bucket, that can be shared. Just visiting costs €5. You can reserve your spot online at: I love Dahlia, possible until September 26th.
Spa & wellness
For deep relaxation we booked the Magnesium Experience at YUMI Spa & Wellness in the Van der Valk Palace Hotel (also open to non-guests). This was one of my favourite activities of our staycation and a true must if you really want to relax and rejuvenate!
This unique private 2.5- to 3-hour treatment includes a magnesium foot spa, body wrap under an infrared blanket with facial massage, andullation massage, a magnesium-rich smoothie, infrared sauna and a 30-minute float session in a pure magnesium bath. The result is profound muscular and mental relaxation.
This treatment can also be booked as a duo for a reduced combination rate, find all info here: YUMI Magnesium Experience and get an impression through these pictures:
And of course there is much more to see and do in Noordwijk, like shopping in the center of Noordwijkerhout, Noordwijk-Binnen or the cosy Noordwijk aan Zee, strolling the boulevard, enjoying the many stylish beach clubs or simply relaxing on the wide sandy beaches.
And throughout the region there are many stylish restaurants where you can eat very well, of which we tried and tested the following:
Noordwijk restaurant guide
Copper Food & Drinks (Noordwijk aan Zee)
Stylish landmark, located next to Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin with an extensive and multi-award-winning terrace. They serve delicious food in a hipster setting and 5 hours of free parking at their underground parking garage is included with your dinner and 2,5 hours with lunch.
Super convenient and very near the sea and boulevard!
De Volière (Noordwijkerhout)
Atmospheric spot next to the Oosterduinse Meer, offering delicious international flavours and shared dining. The wide terrace offers beautiful lakeside views with also plenty of atmospheric seating options inside. Get an impression through this gallery:
Hof van Holland (Noordwijk-Binnen)
Cosy historic-centre restaurant known for excellent Josper-grilled dishes and lovely outdoor terrace.
De Houtkamer (Noordwijkerhout)
One of my favourite restaurants on this trip for their delicious food and warm and inviting atmosphere. Perfect for a relaxed dinner inside or on the large outdoor terrace, right next to the church in the historic center, as you can see here:
Papa Ito (Noordwijk aan Zee)
This stylish gastrobar, right next to the boulevard, should not be missed either! Perfect for sushi lovers, while also offering creative fusion cuisine and excellent cocktails, served in this classy setting:
A true zen staycation
Noordwijk offers everything needed for genuine recovery: healing sea air, soft beaches, peaceful dunes, comfortable accommodations, great restaurants, excellent wellness facilities and the seasonal beauty of the flower fields. This combination of nature, thalasso elements and mindful experiences provide the perfect setting to fully recharge while enjoying the region's extensive offering.
More inspiration for your own visit with all the info you need can be found on: Noordwijk.info and do check the Noordwijk offering to become even more Zen during your stay on this page: Herbronnen in Noordwijk.
I hope I was able to show you how beautiful and diverse Noordwijk really is, and why combining the beach with these cute villages makes the perfect weekend or midweek getaway. It’s a great alternative to the busier Dutch seaside resorts like Scheveningen and Zandvoort. You can find even more Noordwijk and other lesser-known beach inspiration in this article or on my Netherlands page.
Did you know this gem on the westcoast of the Netherlands yet? Always love to hear what you think and I hope that my experiences and tips shared in this Noordwijk staycation guide for the Netherlands, will be useful for your own visit too!
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