msterdam has a beach, sort of. A 30 min train ride from Central Station will get you Zandvoort. A train runs to Haarlem every 15min then change to Zandvoort aan Zee. In summer a special train runs directly to Zandvoort beach.

But if it’s summer, who wants to do it the easy way, more fun is to rent a motorcycle, well… 125cc motorscooter – there are several rental places right outside of Centrum, inexpensive and a fantastic to get around town. Especially if the beach or tulip fields are on your agenda.

1. Things to see

On the way to the beach, you’ll pass windmills, graveyards and many small towns along the route where you can stop off and sample some of the local cafes and shops.

Zandvoort itself is probably worth its own few days stay, however every time I’ve been it’s just for a day trip.

They have kiosks on the beach driven around by big tractors with oversized wheels that sell fresh fried fish, seafood and salmon are out of this world.

There’s even a nudist beach that stretches 2.5km, (that I’ve never tried). Even in winter, it’s worth the drive just to play on the beach, get your toes wet and have some lunch.

At night there are over 30 beach clubs offering DJ and live music, and daytime includes surfing, stand up paddleboarding, kitesurfing and other watersports.

Seafood kiosk

Fried salmon and fish!

At the beach

Empty

Laying in the sand

Pinay in Zandvoort

More Zandvoort

Happy to be back in Amsterdam

A day at the beach best reached by a motorscooter and plenty of time to wander to the coast