The best of Castricum and Egmond aan Zee
Castricum aan Zee, also called Bakkum aan Zee. Not a 'real' seaside resort like Zandvoort or Noordwijk aan Zee – no one lives there and there is no boulevard – and therefore it is generally much less densely populated. Beach (even voted the cleanest in the Netherlands in 2014), forest, dunes and a cold beer, that's all. The same applies to Egmond, ten to fifteen minutes away by car, where it is also a great place to stay. For convenience, we pulled them together: this is, until we discover more. Voilá, according to us the best of Castricum and Egmond aan Zee.
Okay, this is a no-brainer, we understand that. But still… Club Zand is and remains the best option for the whole day, but more importantly: for the whole year, for twelve months, seven days a week. Moreover, Club Zand is such an attractive address from the beach tent books: a bit of hippie, a touch of boho, some white wash here and especially a lot of informality there. You can hang out in the rattan (hanging) chairs in front of the door, with a view of the sea.
Also check this list: Barts Best or all Dutch beach bars
Carter Castricum we want to go. We have no doubt that we will be able to eat well there. The cuisine has a contemporary French bistro menu and is inspired by the vibrant restaurants and bars of New York and London. The kitchen team gives classic bistro dishes a contemporary twist, taking modern techniques and seasonality into account. The menu is further supplemented with great wines and cocktails (you don't want to miss those). We also find the staff friendly, the atmosphere nice and the place top.
There may have been some disagreement about the name, but anyone who has seen these two titles should know that we are talking about one and the same hotel on the North Holland coast. The dunes of Castricum are the place to be, where secretly the first guests have already stayed in what will undoubtedly be/is the most beautiful coastal hotel in the country. The paint is still wet and we haven't been yet, but the whole place was decorated from A to Z by the creative and ridiculously tasteful guys behind HKliving. Then you will know. The place is run by the people of restaurant Zoomers who, with two locations of their content, know exactly how to receive guests, pamper them and ensure that everyone walks out satisfied.
Also check this list: Barts Best of Sleeping by the sea: wonderful coastal addresses (2021)
Sometimes you have places that just make you very happy just by looking at the pictures. Well, that was the case with this house. Delvers Dune House is the place to really get away from it all. Peace, space, beach and around the corner from a large handful of really good local shops.
It is the kind of place where, once you have been once, you would like to return every year. Or even more often than once a year, but ok. From a long walk on the beach, straight into the sauna. Coat on, cart along and off you go with the little stuff. In the evening, on the couch, glass of wine… In short, what more could you want?
If you don't know it, then you don't know it, but IN Castricum you will find this wonderful spot called Brutaal. A more than nice and colorful café with a lovely terrace: exactly the kind of address you would like to visit during your holiday. And then you immediately see how nice and beautiful Castricum is, apart from the beach where - admit it - you usually can't get away from it. Shame! From the beach and/or the campsite it is a wonderful cycling route to Hartje Castricum where there is actually only one destination (and a very nice one). Correct: Brutal.
And while you're cycling, definitely pedal yourself to Egmond-Binnen where you... Gasterij Nieuw Westert, an unknown pearl in the green with a play forest for the children.
There is small-scale and there is small-scale. Well, here you are all with you you, yourself and whoever you take with you, but you will not meet other guests: there is only one room in the Water Tower. It doesn't get much more romantic. Nothing less than 360 degree views. Over the dunes, over the trees and if you are lucky and the weather cooperates, you can see as far as Amsterdam. Do you wave? And you wouldn't really be out and about if you didn't wake up with an extensive breakfast. This is also arranged by the people of the nearby De Oude Keuken. You can stay upstairs and eat your breakfast in the room (can you see yourself: breakfast on your king-size bed, with a view from here to Tokyo?), but if you prefer to start the day with both feet on the ground, you are you are also very welcome at De Oude Keuken itself.
On the edge of the dunes and therefore the ideal place for outings such as (long) walking and cycling routes and a day at the beach, but also central enough that you can reach charming Castricum within seven minutes by car: B&B MooyBakkum! Owners Jan and Rineke make sure that everything is in order, that breakfast is ready in the morning and if you have other questions or things, they will help you with that too. The house is cozy, nicely decorated and has everything so that you don't have to go out (but that is of course very nice in that area). The house has a lot of light and a view of the greenery. There is a small kitchen, dining area, sofa and when the sun shines, you can sit outside at the picnic table. You can also just take your bicycles, so Castricum and surroundings is your oyster!
You will find Labradors and outdoorswomen (perhaps in all senses of the word) with beige trousers, wearing riding boots and no, that is usually not necessarily 'our thing'. But once you start walking, hiking is the trendy term, things can get a lot worse. The outdoor brasserie has a spacious terrace, while inside a fire always flickers in the enormous fireplace. Henny Huisman's daughter Nikki and son-in-law Frank run the business and I - I should say I - have a soft spot for Henny and therefore also for his descendants. Frank and Nikki are usually in the business themselves and when that is the case, everything goes well. Recommended for an extensive, high-quality dinner? Not necessarily, but no one claims that. A sunny lunch in the summer, or warming up on bad days: yes.
It is in Egmond all year round nice place to stay. If you treat yourself to a wonderful stay at Ory aan Zee, you won't want to go home at all. The beach is literally within walking distance, for that ultimate get-away feeling.
We classify the accommodations at Ory aan Zee as 'unique finds in our own country'. Houses that all tick all the boxes: spacious, fantastic location and well furnished. There is an amazing Dune Lodge, a Beach House right on the beach and a cozy Beach Cottage. All ideal if you are with a (large) family or group of friends looking for a place to get some fresh air and recharge.
Last on this list, but certainly not least: Maris Apartments and the restaurant on the ground floor of the coastal building Restaurant Comer. The first, the apartments, are super deluxe home-from-home places for a short or long time. Right in front of your door on the beach, De Zilvermeeuw is your look-no-further beach bar, but it is just as fun, or even more fun (especially in the evenings). Restaurant Comer on the ground floor of the building. You sit among the plants, slurp fresh oysters and eat from an uncomplicated, genuinely good menu.
