Alkmaar region
The Alkmaar region is very diverse. From Alkmaar you can head towards the charming coastal villages such as Bergen and Egmond, or cycle through villages like Spijkerboor and Ursem. Between all these places you’ll also find many other villages well worth a visit! #mustsee
Bergen
As soon as you enter mystical Bergen, you immediately understand why this is originally an artists’ village. The filtered light through the trees, leafy lanes, and unique location between forest and dunes – inspiration comes naturally.
And all this just three kilometers away from the seaside resort Bergen aan Zee, where you can relax on the beach! Sink into a lounge sofa or drift away in a hammock while the children enjoy themselves.
Castricum
In Castricum you will find perhaps the quietest beach in North Holland. Cycle along the “Stille Strandweg,” right through the beautiful dune area, to the southern beach entrance. Here you’ll hear nothing but the sound of the waves.
At one of the beach pavilions you can enjoy the best view and have lunch or dinner until the sun sets.
Dijk en Waard
Dijk en Waard, in the Alkmaar region, offers a unique mix of urban and rural charm. With the largest indoor shopping center in North Holland and vast polder landscapes, visitors can enjoy shopping, hiking, cycling, and boating along picturesque villages and traditional farmhouses. Local stalls offer fresh produce, and friendly entrepreneurs provide a warm welcome.
Heiloo
The name Heiloo explains exactly what you’ll find here: vast forests and a sanctuary. It’s a leafy area in a perfect location: from Heiloo you can cycle to the beach or to Alkmaar’s city center in just fifteen minutes!
The village has two shopping centers: the Stationscentrum and the indoor Winkelhof ’t Loo. On a warm day you can cool off at the outdoor pool Het Baafje.
Schoorl
Relax or be active? In Schoorl you’ll experience true freedom. Discover the rugged, untouched dune valley and explore the different types of dunes in the Schoorlse Duinen. Further south the dunes contain a lot of lime, where you’ll also find the rare sea buckthorn. Seek silence or enjoy the lively atmosphere in the unique village center at the foot of the dunes. With more than 60 kilometers of walking and cycling paths and a vibrant town center, you’re guaranteed an unexpectedly beautiful stay in dune village Schoorl.
Uitgeest
Residents of Uitgeest enjoy the best of both worlds: the tranquility of a village and the bustle of the city nearby. Plus, the Uitgeest and Alkmaardermeer lakes with their lively harbor are just around the corner. Active visitors can take sailing and surfing lessons, or rent a sloop with the family and enjoy a relaxing day on the water!
De Beemster
Until the early seventeenth century, when a group of wealthy Amsterdammers decided to drain the Beemster with 43 mills, the area was still a large lake. After draining, farmers could grow food there. Since then, the Beemster has become a symbol of how the Dutch have shaped their land themselves.
It is no coincidence that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!