Frequently asked questions about the beach in Noordwijk

As far as we know, yes: amateurs may search with a metal detector on the beach in Noordwijk.

• Rules: heritage law, weapons law and the local bylaws (APV) also apply on the beach; valuable finds must be reported to the municipality.
• Municipality: Noordwijk belongs to the municipality of Noordwijk, which can ban detecting through its bylaws; if in doubt, check the current rules.
• Dunes: searching in the dunes is prohibited, to protect nature and the sea defences.
• Tidy up: always fill in any holes you dig.

No, launching or landing a motor boat on the beach requires an exemption from the municipality of Noordwijk.

• Jet skis: no permits are issued for jet skis and water scooters.

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Noordwijk at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

No, not without an exemption from the municipality of Noordwijk.

All local surf information (including surfing schools) can you find on our special page: https://noordwijk.org/en/cat/surfing/

Yes, the beach in Noordwijk is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.

Up-to-date information on the bathing water quality at Noordwijk is available on zwemwater.nl.

• Status: good (safe to swim), warning (swimming allowed, possible health risk), negative swimming advice and swimming ban.
• Bathing season: from 1 May to 1 October the province measures the quality at the official bathing sites.
• Out of season: there are no measurements; you decide for yourself whether swimming is safe.

Yes, in Noordwijk you can borrow a beach wheelchair during the beach season.

• Strandpaviljoen Nederzandt: Langevelderslag 52, Noordwijk, tel. +31 252 372 430.
• Outdoor4disabled: Langevelderslag 44-46, Noordwijk, tel. +31 6 46 37 22 08 (beach crawler).
• Strandpaviljoen De Koele Costa: Zeereep 21, Noordwijk, tel. +31 6 20 43 11 18.
• Alexander Beachclub: exit 10, Noordwijk, tel. +31 71 362 0489.
• Strandpaviljoen De Zeespiegel: Duindamseslag, exit 24, Noordwijk, tel. +31 252 376 790.
• Season: usually from June to September.
• Booking: call ahead, the number of chairs is limited; use is often free.
• Use: for beach and sea only; you need someone to push.

Display Strandpaviljoen Nederzandt
on the map

No, the dunes in Noordwijk are off limits outside the paths.

• Why: the dunes protect the land from the sea and are almost everywhere a protected nature reserve; walking on them damages the vegetation.
• Allowed: Walking and cycling on the marked dune paths.
• Nature: picking plants and disturbing animals is prohibited by law.

Single-line kites are allowed all over the beach in Noordwijk; steerable kites only south of the Koningin Astrid Boulevard.

• Steerable: kites with two or more lines, including kitesurf kites, between beach pole 83.25 and the municipal border with Katwijk.

[Answer in Dutch]

Zee en Zon
Strandvak 10
2225 KATWIJK
tel. +31 71-4071509
gsm. +31 6-53934594
mail. info@zeeenzon.nl
web. https://www.zeeenzon.nl

Yes, several beaches in Noordwijk have free outdoor showers in season.

• Including: Afrit 10, Afrit 16, Afrit 17.
• Season: the beach showers are in place from early May to late September.

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season in Noordwijk begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

Yes, at most beach pavilions in Noordwijk you can rent sunbeds, beach chairs, parasols and windbreaks by the day.

• Booking: usually you rent on the spot; on busy summer days it helps to arrive early or book ahead.

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

Sport fishing from the beach of Noordwijk in the North Sea is all year and throughout the day allowed. Be careful when inserting your rod to the other beach and sea users.

To sport fishing in the sea from the beach you will not need a license. To fish in lakes (and other waterways) is a license and a fishing license required. These are available in the tourist office.

So even though sport fishing from the beach is allowed throughout the year, one thing remains; keep account of each other!

• Dogs are prohibited on the main beaches of Noordwijk (Koningin Astrid Boulevard and Koningin Wilhelmina Boulevard, afrit 2 t/m 21) during the period 1 June till 1 September.
• Outside of the above mentioned period are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Noordwijk.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

Nearest beach for dogs at Noordwijk

• Dogs (both loose and leased) are allowed all year from beach Afrit 1 in the direction Katwijk;
• Leashed dogs are allowed all year from beach Afrit 21 in the direction Zandvoort.

Yes, but not everywhere: riding and draught animals are banned on two stretches of the beach in Noordwijk.

• All year: between beach poles 83.0 and 80.75, the beach in front of the boulevards.
• 1 June to 1 September: between beach poles 75.0 and 74.0, at the Langevelderslag.

To moor or launch a sailing boat, contact the Zeil Vereniging Noordwijk (ZVN).

• Contact: clubhouse, tel. +31 71 361 7287.

No, not without an exemption from the municipality of Noordwijk.

• Sulky: a two-wheeled cart pulled by a horse.

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://noordwijk.org/en/horseback-riding.php

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Noordwijk at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

No, not without an exemption from the municipality of Noordwijk.

You may fly a drone as an individual in the vicinity of Noordwijk if you adhere to the rules. Just as on the road, safety in the air is important—for both you and others. These rules are designed to keep drone flying safe.

1. Check your drone and your liability insurance.
2. Do not fly over people, (rail)roads, buildings, and other structures. Advice: maintain at least 50 metres distance.
3. You must give way to all other aircraft and maintain distance from them.
4. You must fly at a safe distance from people and buildings.
5. You must always be able to see your drone.
6. You are not allowed to fly in the dark.
7. Do not fly higher than 120 metres.
8. Stay away from airports and other no-fly zones (at least 3 kilometres).
9. Filming or photography: respect everyone's privacy.
10. Flying over Natura 2000 areas (protected nature reserves) is not permitted.

The current drone regulations (for the vicinity of Noordwijk) can be found on the website of the Dutch government:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/drones.

However, drone regulations frequently change and are generally becoming stricter. We therefore advise you to regularly check if the current drone regulations have changed.

Commercial use of a drone?

You may only fly a drone commercially if you have a licence. You can apply for this licence at the Inspection for Living Environment and Transport (Il&T).

Commercial use is considered if you intend to make money with the drone, such as video production companies making aerial recordings. It may also be that you need a drone for your business operations. This applies, for example, to inspection companies wanting to view hard-to-reach places. In these cases, commercial use is also considered.