Katwijk aan zee: from nature reserves, shopping to diving into history

Katwijk aan zee, one of the many coastal towns in the Netherlands, offers one of the most beautiful beaches in the Netherlands, a rich history and enough activities to fill a long stay. Although most guests naturally come to walk along this beach in South Holland, it is also certainly worth visiting a nearby nature reserve. Wooded areas where the sound of the roaring ocean and the seagulls are never far away, are for example Pan van Persijn, Lentevreugd, Ganzenhoek or further south, for example Meijendel.

Nature reserves Katwijk

Besides the fact that wooded areas such as Pan van Persijn (or for the people of Katwijk: Panbos) are nice places for a stroll, for cycling, picnicking or for sports, you will also find remnants of the rich history that is connected to Katwijk. For example, there is a remnant of a tank wall through the area that is still part of the Atlantic Wall. This 5000 meter long defense line ran from the northernmost point of Norway to the southernmost point of Spain during the Second World War. The bunkers, cannons and minefields along this line had to prevent an invasion.

In addition to walking on the beach of Katwijk or through one of the forests in the area, the rolling golf courses of the Oegstgeester Golfclub are also not far away. For the lover of a game of golf, there are enough golf courses in South Holland nearby, so that a weekend at the beach can also be perfectly combined with a more sporty activity.

Katwijk Lighthouse

Anyone visiting a beach in the Netherlands, specifically the beach of Katwijk, cannot miss a visit to the lighthouse. Although the lighthouse of Katwijk does not have the usual red and white stripes on the outside, the white rectangular building is still a recognizable point in the area. It is the second oldest lighthouse in the Netherlands and has been admired since 1605. If you want more information about the lighthouse or a visit, you can read more about it here.

A visit to Katwijk aan zee will certainly give you a wonderfully relaxed feeling. It is wonderful to immerse yourself in all the beautiful nature that Katwijk and the surrounding area of Katwijk have to offer during your stay. For those who are also looking for a stay where the city is never far away, a stay at Hotel Noordzee can be perfectly combined with a visit to nearby The Hague. Here you can fully immerse yourself in city life, where a visit to the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag and the shopping streets should of course not be missed.