Frequently asked questions about beach in Wijk aan Zee

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 Wijk aan Zee 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.

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

• Rules: heritage law, weapons law and the local bylaws (APV) also apply on the beach; valuable finds must be reported to the municipality.
• Municipality: Wijk aan Zee belongs to the municipality of Beverwijk, 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.

Yes, the beach in Wijk aan Zee is free to access.

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

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 Wijk aan Zee 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.

Yes, in Wijk aan Zee you can borrow a beach wheelchair during the beach season.

• Outstanding Events: Noordpier beach, Reyndersweg 3c, Velsen-Noord, tel. +31 6 23 09 38 92.
• Surfcentrum Hot Zone: Relweg 2b, Wijk aan Zee, tel. +31 20 423 5932.
• Revalidatiecentrum Heliomare: Relweg 51, Wijk aan Zee, tel. +31 88 920 8888.
• 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.

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Yes, sea fishing from the beach in Wijk aan Zee is allowed; you do not need a VISpas (fishing licence) for this.

• Swimmers: do not fish among swimmers and keep your distance from supervised bathing zones.
• Rules: check the signs at the beach entrances for local rules.

Yes, north of Wijk aan Zee towards Castricum there is a naturist beach between beach poles 45.5 and 48.75.

• More information: an overview of all naturist beaches is available from the Naturisten Federatie Nederland.

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Sand yachting and blokarting are possible on the activity beach of Wijk aan Zee, for example with Outstanding Events at the Noordpier.

• Paragliding: there is no officially recognised paragliding site above the dunes.

Up-to-date information on the bathing water quality at Wijk aan Zee 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, at most beach pavilions in Wijk aan Zee 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/

As far as we know, there are no public showers on the beaches in Wijk aan Zee.

• Tip: some beach pavilions have a shower for their guests.

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

The family beach is north of the Sunseabar pavilion, the activity beach south of it towards Velsen.

• Family beach: from the Sunseabar to the Noorderbad pavilion at the Heemskerk border; no kitesurfing, multi-line kites or blokarting in season.
• Activity beach: from the Sunseabar to the Velsen border; in marked zones blokarting, kite flying, (kite)surfing and boating are allowed, with boats keeping 300 metres from the low-water line.
• Please note: enforcement officers can always step in in case of danger or nuisance.

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

No, the dunes in Wijk aan Zee 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.