12 Jun THE ULTIMATE BLOEMENDAAL GUIDE
Bloemendaal used to be well-known for its beach parties, however the luxury beach town has a lot more to offer sports lovers, nature enthusiasts, trendy shops and restaurants.
Here’s a guide for a weekend trip to the lovely Bloemendaal region!
Strolls on Bloemendaal beach
Oh how wonderful it is to get a breath of fresh air on the beach and smell the salty sea. Whether it is warm weather or not, a walk on the beach is always a good idea (okay except for when it’s storming) An extra advantage of Bloemendaal aan Zee is that you will pass beach clubs, surf schools and pretty lunch spots where you can hang out (currently you can have a coffee-to-go!)
Discover Bloemendaal’s Beach Clubs
Bloemendaal has some magnificent Beach Clubs and the following four are our favourites:
- De Republiek: The perfect place to relax after a long walk on the beach or to enjoy a wonderful day in the sun. Extra points + for their impressing interior, super stylish. Dinner was a little bit disappointing, especially for vegetarians, but lunch and coffee is great!
- Rapa NUI: At colourful Rapa Nui you can expect funky music, great food from international cuisine, and a good glass of wine! Thoroughly enjoyed the Moroccan platter here which I had for dinner!
- Woodstock: A beach club where you can chill, eat, drink and kite all day long. It’s also well known for the cool parties which are held there in summer season.
- San Blas: is named after an archipelago on the Caribbean coast. These little islands are inhabited by Kuna families who harvest coconuts and they live outside all year round. The owners of San Blas in Bloemendaal wanted to bring this tropical “living outside” lifestyle to the Netherlands and they certainly succeeded doing that!
Republiek, Bloemendaal aan Zee
Surf lessons
You don’t need to go to Bali or Brazil to ride some waves.. We Dutchies also have some good surf spots- and Bloemendaal is one of them! Surfing is loads of fun and a great full-body work out. Fun fact: feel-good neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and adrenaline) are released during surfing which create a feeling of serenity and joy. Rapa Nui surfschool is open all year round and offers lessons for beginners and more advanced surfers.
Where to Eat in Bloemendaal
Besides the beach, Bloemendaal town itself offers a variety of restaurants and cafes. Here are a couple of places you should definitely try!
Fleurie, Bloemendaal
You will find most these restaurants on the Bloemendaalseweg, the main street of Bloemendaal.
Fleurie, (see header photo) is your spot for breakfast, lunch. They are probably the most trendy and popular spot on the street and their coffee is great. At the moment they offer a great take-away menu (also for dinner) with healthy, yet very nice food choices including cakes!
Locael Centraal has two locations in Bloemendaal and Haarlem (central station). It’s the perfect catch up location or place to work as a freelancer.
Passie voor Smaak is a well known Italian caterer but also sells traditional Dutch meals such as “stampot“. try their take-away Italian sandwiches!
Restaurant Noor, come here for lunch and dinner, now also as take-away. Nevertheless, you are going to taste some good quality food here.
Nieuw Vreeburg Bistrobar has an outside terrace/veranda and serves a no-nonsense lunch and dinner such as burgers, soups and salads.
Restaurants on the hill
If you want to eat Dutch pancakes in style, you should visit Blosh on top of the hill. Bonus, they have a nice outside terrace. On your way up there, you’ll pass the most beautiful villa’s and estates.
Just across from Peper’s, you’ll find Ron Gastrobar bij de C with the best view over the dunes and hills. This place is also a favourite for weddings and business meetings.
Village Church Bloemendaal
Nearby Towns
Haarlem is a vibrant city with a rich history and its only 10 minutes away from Bloemendaal. Stroll through the cosy streets of the centre of Haarlem and discover surprising boutiques, vintage stores and specialty shops. You will also come across many beautiful spots such as small courtyards, squares, canals and churches while exploring the streets of Haarlem. Tip: Visit Paragons in Haarlem to score some unique vintage designer items or to get inspired by all the beautiful garments hanging there.
Other villages worth checking out are Santpoort-Noord (read the full guide!) and Overveen.
Ruïne van Brederode Santpoort
Hiking around Bloemendaal
Zuid-Kennemerland National Park (located next to Bloemendaal) is known for its extensive dune landscape. You can take a hike of approximately 12 km, however you can make it as extensive as you want of course. The national park will guide you on beautiful paths, through woods, over dunes, along lakes and beautiful viewpoints. Did you know we have mentioned this area in our book 110 Bijzondere Bestemmingen?
Very popular amongst people with kids is the Oosterplas. This lake has a beachfront where children safely play around. From here you can easily walk to other parts of the nature park. Rent some bicycles and explore the largest lake “Vogelmeer“. In like manner and a great place to walk your dog(s) is Caprera. This is also the place where you’ll find the Bloemendaal Open Air Theater and you pay €1,- per person to get in the small park.
Oosterplas, Overveen
Where to stay?
You have several options around Bloemendaal but the first thing you see when you arrive at the beach is the Poort Beach Boutique Apartments are literally located next to the beach in Bloemendaal aan Zee and offers apartments in 2 unique buildings. Expect modern facilities and scenic views of the sea and dunes! Besides that, there are also countless beach lodges available on Airbnb.
Hotel Bloemendaal has been around for ages and offers standard to luxury apartments in the middle of Bloemendaal.
Hotel Bloemendaal
Altogether, Bloemendaal and the surrounding areas have plenty to offer for a nice weekend away! And being close to the beach is always a pleasure!
Love,
Wander-Lust
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