Egmond aan Zee Strand

Bergen aan Zee, Netherlands

Bergen aan Zee offers a beautiful stretch of North Sea coastline that is part of the municipality of Bergen in North Holland. The beach is divided into distinct zones: activity beaches (marked with orange poles), sunbathing beaches (yellow poles), and a naturist beach (pink poles). During winter from October through April, dogs can roam freely across all beach sections, making it ideal for long walks with your four-legged friend. In summer, the rules vary by zone — leashed dogs are welcome on activity beaches throughout the day, while all other areas are accessible before 10:00 and after 19:00. The village of Bergen aan Zee is a charming seaside resort with the popular Zee Aquarium featuring over 300 species of marine life. Behind the beach lies the magnificent North Holland Dune Reserve, home to Scottish Highland cattle and Exmoor ponies, with excellent walking trails. Paid parking is available at several locations including Parkweg (225m to beach) and Van Der Wijckplein (150m to beach), costing around EUR 1.90 per hour or EUR 10 per day. Several beach pavilions offer food and drinks, and the village has a relaxed, artistic atmosphere that complements a day at the beach with your dog.

Castricum, Netherlands

Castricum aan Zee offers a stunning natural beach setting surrounded by the Noordhollands Duinreservaat, the largest coastal nature reserve in the Netherlands. During the off-season from October 1 to May 1, dogs have full off-leash access to the entire beach, making it a wonderful destination for autumn and winter beach walks. In the summer bathing season from May to October, dogs are welcome before 10:00 and after 19:00. Even during peak summer hours between 10:00 and 19:00, dogs can still access designated leashed walking paths — from the Bad Noord beach entrance heading north to beach pole 43, and from the Stille Strand entrance heading south to pole 47.750. The beach itself is wide and natural, backed by rolling dunes rather than a boulevard, giving it a wilder feel than many Dutch resort beaches. A large car park at the end of the Zeeweg accommodates approximately 1,700 vehicles with paid parking. Several beach pavilions including Strandpaviljoen Zeezicht offer refreshments with sea views. The real treasure here is the surrounding Noordhollands Duinreservaat — a 5,300-hectare reserve with over 100 kilometres of walking and cycling paths through dunes, forests, heathlands, and open sand plains. The De Hoep Visitor Centre in Castricum provides information about the area and its wildlife, including Scottish Highland cattle and Konik horses that graze freely in the dunes.

Schoorl, Netherlands

Schoorl aan Zee is a unique and peaceful beach accessible only on foot or by bicycle through the stunning Schoorlse Duinen — the widest dune area in the Netherlands. This car-free approach gives the beach a wonderfully secluded feel, making it a favourite among nature lovers and dog owners seeking a quieter coastal experience. The beach is part of the municipality of Bergen and follows the same dog-friendly rules as neighbouring Bergen aan Zee and Camperduin. During winter, dogs can roam freely across the entire beach. In summer, leashed dogs are welcome on the activity beaches all day, while off-leash play is permitted before 10:00 and after 19:00 on all sections. Strandpaviljoen Paal 29 operates on the beach during the warmer months, offering food and drinks with panoramic North Sea views. Since there is no direct car access, the nearest parking is at Hargen aan Zee (a large car park with 1,600 spaces) or at Camperduin. The walk through the dunes to the beach is part of the experience and offers beautiful scenery. The Schoorlse Duinen themselves are a magnificent nature area managed by Staatsbosbeheer, with trails where dogs are welcome — leashed during breeding season (March–September) and off-leash the rest of the year.