NETHERLANDS GUIDE

Discover Benelux | Top Places to Visit in the Netherlands in 2019 | The Ultimate Destination
12th-century Assumburg Castle with
its impressive French Classicist-style
gardens. Every December, the castle
grounds host a Christmas fair with live
music, performances and plenty of holiday
inspiration.
Visiting Heemskerk also means revelling
in its natural beauty. “The numerous
meadows and a belt of parks and
ponds make Heemskerk a green heart
in the northern Randstad,” says Marieke
van Dijk, Alderman of Tourism. “And all
this is but a 15 minute train ride from
Alkmaar and Haarlem and 30 minutes
from Amsterdam Central Station,” she
adds. But that is not all: come the spring,
the colourful fields of blooming flowers
nestled between the dunes are quite a
sight to behold. Experience their vibrant
splendour by cycling through the region
and meeting the growers. You will soon
realise why Heemskerk’s quality flowers
are renowned the world over.
Quiet beaches, rolling dunes
and vast woodlands
What makes Heemskerk especially in-
viting is its proximity to the seaside.
Heemskerk’s wide, pleasant beach not
only happens to be the cleanest in North
Holland, but it is perfect for those looking
for a more secluded place to sink their
toes into the sand. Van Dijk: “The beach
can be reached by bike or by foot only.
This results in a pleasant family beach,
never too crowded, where you will experience
the pure and restful character of
the Heemskerk coast.” You will not find
noisy bars at this beach either. Instead,
there is one friendly pavilion, De Vrijheit,
where you can sit back with a cup of coffee,
a cool drink or a satisfying dinner.
Heemskerk’s beach is part of one of
the country’s largest protected natural
areas. Known as the Noordhollands
Duinreservaat (North Holland Dunes
Reservation), this oasis of calm stretches
out over approximately 20 kilometres
and counts 5,300 hectares. For a more
active way to explore the area, put on
your hiking shoes and trek through the
sandy valleys and hills bordered to the
east by Europe’s largest expanse of parabolic
dunes. Another option is to venture
out on horseback or to bike through
the shady woodlands where you might
just encounter robust Highland cattle
lazily grazing.
The region’s cycling hub network offers
marked trails yet allows ample opportunity
to plan routes that suit you best.
The ‘Rondje Heemskerk’, for example, is
highly recommended: “This cycle route
follows the historic boundaries of the
municipality and is literally a bicycle tour
‘around Heemskerk’,” says Van Dijk. “It
is an interesting and varied journey over
dykes and through dunes, passing agricultural
land, meadows and water. You
will also see the town’s beautiful houses
and castles. In short, it is Heemskerk at
its best.”
Already planning a trip? The Stayokay
hostel at Assumburg Castle, Château
Marquette’s hotel, and one of the many
B&Bs, will most certainly make your stay
even more memorable.
Web: www.heemskerkzeevantijd.nl
Issue 62 | February 2019 | 51