Discover Bergen
Accommodation in Bergen
The following places and routes each offer something different – from an audio walk through the artists’ village to trails through the dunes.
Art, architectural history and local traditions
Museum Kranenburgh manages an extensive art collection spanning 1900 to the present, with a focus on the art of the Bergen School. The museum offers creative workshops at Studio C, while the sculpture garden displays works from the collection outdoors. In Bergen, you can discover artworks from different perspectives – in the collection, at a workshop or in the garden.
The history of the RuĂŻnekerk dates back to 1094. The Heilig Bloedwonder of 1422 made the church an important place of pilgrimage. The Saturday market takes place around the church in the centre of Bergen every Saturday throughout the year, from 08:30 to 17:00. Fresh local produce and treats are sold there. Another seasonal tradition is the RuĂŻnekerk art market: it has been held every summer since 1984 and features more than 70 stalls, with a changing selection each week.
The buildings also tell the story of different eras. Park Meerwijk was laid out in 1918 with villas in the Amsterdam School style. Of the original 17 buildings, 13 are well preserved, and the entire park is protected as a Rijksmonument. Landgoed het Oude Hof is considered the first country estate established in the Netherlands. The estate was created between 1643 and 1660 in the French classical style: avenues, sightlines, ponds, Kattebergen and rows of trees follow a strictly geometric pattern. The Cinebergen cinema is housed in the historic De Zwarte Schuur on this estate. Its programme includes world cinema, classics, children’s films and documentaries.
The Damlandermolen links engineering history with the landscape around Bergen. It was built in 1578 as a sturdy, octagonal binnenkruier to protect around 135 hectares of waterfront land between the former Bergermeer and the southern edge of Bergen from excess water. Following its restoration, it turns regularly again.
Compare dunes, polders and routes
Bergen has an extensive polder landscape with numerous paths, walking trails and cycle routes. The Noordhollands Duinreservaat also offers an extensive network of walking trails and cycle routes. Its landscape includes deciduous and coniferous forests, sand dunes with marram grass, small dune lakes and heathland vegetation. Wildlife found there includes various species of birds, butterflies, rabbits and squirrels.
The Schoorlse Duinen are considered the highest dune area in the northern part of Noord-Holland and have more than 60 kilometres of walking trails. The Buitencentrum Schoorlse Duinen is a starting point for visits and offers exhibitions, activities and routes. At the De Duinheide visitor centre, you can get tips on walking and cycling routes in the Noordhollands Duinreservaat; dune and hiking maps are available to buy there. Two small exhibitions cover grazing in the dunes, as well as water treatment by PWN and the importance of nature in this process. As exhibition content may change, check which displays are on before your visit.
A walk from Bergen to Bergen aan Zee takes you through the dunes to the beach. To compare routes by distance, two routes through Bergen are worth considering: the Kunst wandelroute Bergen is a five-kilometre audio walk through the artists’ village. The 12.1-kilometre Kunstenaarsdorp Bergen walking route passes through the centre and the polder and goes by the Ruïnekerk. The 25-kilometre Witte zandduinen cycling route runs through Bergen and the Schoorlse Duinen. The Blauwe route also combines a trail with a historic destination: it leads to Brederodeveld, where Jan van Bergen’s castle stood between 1200 and 1400. As route paths may change, check the current route before setting out.
At Het Hertenkamp, you can observe deer, goats, sheep and other animals up close. This adds another specific reason to visit to the cultural attractions and the range of landscapes and routes.
Discover more destinations: Egmond Aan Zee, Groet, Schoorl, Bergen, Bergen Aan Zee, Egmond Aan Den Hoef, Egmond-Binnen, Alkmaar.
Back to the main travel overview: North Holland.
