Frequently asked questions about beach in Bergen aan Zee

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

• Summer (01 May – 01 October): Angling with individual fishing tackle is only permitted on recreational beaches.
• Winter (01 October – 01 May): Angling with individual fishing tackle is permitted on all beaches. Fishing with fixed fishing gear is only permitted between the 36.5 and 39.5 km, and between the 40.25 and 41.0 km beach markers.

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! Be careful when inserting your rod to the other beach and sea users.

More information: https://bergenaanzee.org/pdf/2207_strandregels.pdf

Open fires are not permitted.
Small contained fires, for example barbeques or campfires are also not permitted.

It is not permitted to remain overnight on the beach, except in the beach huts in Egmond aan Zee.

Summer; only before 10.00 and after 19.00

Winter: cycling is permitted the whole day.

There are two periods for which different periods apply;
The Summer period runs from 1st May until 1st October.
The Winter period is from 1st October until 1st May.

The beach is also divided into zones according to use and or permitted activities. These zones are indicated by boards on the beach.

With regard to the public security fire (including a campfire, fire pit, grill or barbecue) is prohibited at all times on the beach of Bergen aan Zee.

Barbecues inside or on the terrace of a beach restaurant, are not covered by this prohibition.

There are in the surroundings of Bergen aan Zee several nudist beaches. The nearest location is between Schoorl aan Zee and Bergen aan Zee (posts 29.5 31.5).

More information: https://www.nfn.nl/../bergen/

Display Nudistenstrand Bergen aan Zee
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On this website you will always find the latest information on the quality of bathing water in Bergen aan Zee: https://www.zwemwater.nl/

Possible messages are:
- Good: There are no reports for this swimming spot. You can safely swim.
- Warning: Swimming allowed, however there is a potential health risk.
- Advice against bathing: Not swimming, health risk.
- Swim Ban: Swimming prohibited, great health risk.

During the bathing season (May 1 to October 1) local provinces will inform you about the quality of the water of the official bathing sites. The measuring point is the place where most bathers are expected either where the risk of pollution is greatest.

Outside the bathing season, the bathing water is not investigated. If you go into the water off season, you must decide for yourself whether it is justified.

You can rent chairs, windbreakers and umbrellas at various beach pavilions in Bergen aan Zee.

Access to and use of the beaches of Bergen aan Zee is (of course) free.

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 Bergen aan Zee 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.

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

Summer: only within activity zones

Winter: permitted everywhere

There are two periods for which different periods apply;
The Summer period runs from 1st May until 1st October.
The Winter period is from 1st October until 1st May.

The beach is also divided into zones according to use and or permitted activities. These zones are indicated by boards on the beach.

As far as we know it is permitted to search the beach of Bergen aan Zee with a metal detector.

General information
Generally it is allowed to search the Dutch beaches using a metal detector at amateur level. Metal detection is a search method for finding metal objects in the ground. Beach searchers use a metal detector to find lost items (jewelry and coins) of bathers.

Of course, Dutch laws and regulations also apply on the beach. This means that you, also when searching on beach, need to take the following into account: Law on Archaeological Heritage, the Monuments law, the weapons and ammunition law, the local General Local Regulation (APV), Lost and Found items according to the civil law etc. Aside from that you should always leave behind your search location the way you found it. In other words, neatly close any dug holes.

A local municipality may decide to prohibit the use of a metal detector (detection ban) via the General Local Regulation. Therefore always check the General Local Regulation and/or contact the municipality where you wish to search. Bergen aan Zee is subject to the municipality of Bergen (NH). Here you will find contact information about this municipality: https://www.bergen-nh.nl/

Dunes
Note: Searching in the Dutch dunes is generally strictly prohibited. This is due to the protection of nature.

During the long beach season (June, July, August and September) there are some beach wheelchairs available.

A telephone reservation is recommended. Often the use of beach wheelchairs is free. The beach wheelchair is only for use on the beach and into the sea. All beach wheelchairs need someone to push.  
Below are the lending locations with phone numbers:

Strandpaviljoen Zuid

van der Wijckplein 12
1865 AP Bergen aan Zee
tel. +31 72-5894687

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Swimming is not permitted when de red flag is flying.
Swimming is not permitted alongside the stone groynes

[Answer in Dutch]

Strandpaviljoen Zuid
Links van de strand hoofdafgang van Bergen aan Zee
tel. +31 72-5894687
email: info@strandpaviljoenzuid.nl

Summer: Non-motorised vehicles are not permitted on the beach.

Winter: Non-motorised vehicles are only permitted in the activities zones.

There are two periods for which different periods apply;
The Summer period runs from 1st May until 1st October.
The Winter period is from 1st October until 1st May.

The beach is also divided into zones according to use and or permitted activities. These zones are indicated by boards on the beach.

• Summer (01 May – 01 October): Angling with individual fishing tackle is only permitted on recreational beaches.
• Winter (01 October – 01 May): Angling with individual fishing tackle is permitted on all beaches. Fishing with fixed fishing gear is only permitted between the 36.5 and 39.5 km, and between the 40.25 and 41.0 km beach markers.

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! Be careful when inserting your rod to the other beach and sea users.

More information: https://bergenaanzee.org/pdf/2207_strandregels.pdf

As far as we know there are no (free) public showers on the beaches of Bergen aan Zee.

With regard to the public security fire (including a campfire, fire pit, grill or barbecue) is prohibited at all times on the beach of Bergen aan Zee.

Barbecues inside or on the terrace of a beach restaurant, are not covered by this prohibition.

• Dogs are prohibited on the beaches of Bergen aan Zee during the period 1 May till 1 October between 10:00 till 19:00.
• Outside of the above mentioned period and time are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Bergen aan Zee.

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

More information: https://bergenaanzee.org/pdf/2207_strandregels.pdf

Nearest beach for dogs at Bergen aan Zee

Leashed dogs are allowed all year:

• from beach 27. Zuid in the direction Egmond aan Zee;
• from beach 25. C.F. Zeilerboulevard in the direction Schoorl.

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/

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

• Summer (01 May – 01 October): Only on recreational beaches, or on sunbathing beaches before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
• Winter (01 October – 01 May): Permitted on all beaches, except on Sundays and national holidays between noon and 7 p.m.

More information: https://bergenaanzee.org/pdf/2207_strandregels.pdf

It not permitted to place or leave unattended things for a period of more than 1 day.

Things may not hinder the use of the beach for other users.

Summer: only within activity zones

Winter: permitted everywhere

There are two periods for which different periods apply;
The Summer period runs from 1st May until 1st October.
The Winter period is from 1st October until 1st May.

The beach is also divided into zones according to use and or permitted activities. These zones are indicated by boards on the beach.

Summer: only in activity zones

Winter: permitted everywhere

There are two periods for which different periods apply;
The Summer period runs from 1st May until 1st October.
The Winter period is from 1st October until 1st May.

The beach is also divided into zones according to use and or permitted activities. These zones are indicated by boards on the beach.

No, you may not enter the dunes of Bergen aan Zee. This is to prevent damage. The main function of the dunes is to provide natural protection for the coast against the sea. Without the dunes a large part of the Netherlands would be under water.

In addition, almost all the dunes in the Netherlands is part of a nature reserve. They are an important part of biodiversity. In the dunes live many animals such as rabbits, foxes, deer, lizards and many species of birds. It's official forbidden to pick the plants and to chase animals in the Dutch dunes.

Furthermore you are (of course) allowed to walk on the created hiking paths.