Day Trip from Amsterdam to Bloemendaal aan Zee

To see a Dutch beach, of course! Bloemendaal aan Zee is really more beach than beach town. The nearby dunes, which are part of a national park, make this area much calmer than Zandvoort, a crowded, built-up hotspot of beachcomber activity just down the road. The North Sea is no Caribbean, and for some it's a bit too brisk, but the expanses of dunes in this easy day trip from Amsterdam are worth a visit to clear your head and soak up some nature. Perhaps you're already planning a trip to quaint Haarlem and its treasured museums; this coastal area is only a 15-minute bus ride away and the two could easily be combined.