Egmond-Binnen: Abbey, Gardens and Historic Routes

Egmond-Binnen is an interesting destination for travelers interested in abbey history, gardens, and walking routes. A cultural highlight is the Abdij van Egmond, with guided tours, a museum, and garden areas. The marked Monnikenpad circular walking route and an entrance to the Noordhollands Duinreservaat are also nearby. Which attractions you explore depends on whether you want to focus on the abbey’s history, its gardens, or a route connected to the historic center.

Abbey history and guided tours

A professional guided tour of Egmond’s monastic world introduces the architecture of the Abdij van Egmond. Highlights include the monumental abbey church, with relics of Saint Adelbert, and the tomb of Count Floris van Egmont. Archaeological finds add to the tour. A scale model shows what the abbey grounds are thought to have looked like from the Middle Ages through the 16th century. The tour’s themes therefore range from architectural history to a depiction of the former abbey complex.

Groups of ten or more can book the professional guided tour by appointment from Tuesday to Friday; it lasts about an hour and a half. Another option is the open guided tour on Saturdays, which starts at 2:00 p.m. On that day, registration is available only at the abbey shop checkout. The formats differ primarily in group size, whether an appointment is required, and how to register. Check the date in advance if you plan to join the Saturday tour.

The cultural offerings also include the Abdijmuseum. It preserves historical objects, books, and documents from the Sint Adelbertabdij and exhibits them to a broad audience. The abbey shop also sells two types of cheese developed in collaboration with the local cheese farm De Franschman: Abdijkaas with mustard and pepper, and honey clover Abdijkaas. The museum focuses on objects and documents passed down through the years, while the abbey shop features two specific cheese specialties.

Abbey gardens

The part of the Abdij van Egmond garden that is open to the public includes a butterfly garden. Visitors can learn about butterflies, flowers, and the host plants the butterflies need. The butterfly garden consists of two distinct areas: a natural-style garden with a small pond and a cultivated garden with nectar-rich plants. This garden brings together naturalistic landscaping and planted garden areas.

The ecological tour of the abbey gardens is offered monthly; the program has been running since 2024. It also provides an opportunity to visit areas of the abbey that are normally closed to the public. Places visited include the butterfly garden, herb garden, small edible woodland, and vegetable garden. While the publicly accessible part of the garden allows visitors to see the butterfly garden, the ecological tour also enters areas that are not usually open to the public. If you plan to take this tour, check the date in advance.

Walking and the story of Adelbertus

The marked Monnikenpad circular walking route passes the historic center of Egmond-Binnen. If a connection to the town center is important to you on a walk, this named route is a useful guide: it runs alongside the historic center. There is also an entrance to the dunes on Middenweg in Egmond-Binnen. A dune pass is required to visit the Noordhollands Duinreservaat.

Another historic site is the Adelbertusakker, on the edge of the dunes near Egmond-Binnen. It is named after Saint Adelbert, who preached Christianity there in the early Middle Ages and was buried on this Akker after his death. The Adelbertusput can still be seen; the Adelbertusakker is considered a historic place for rest, quiet, and reflection. This place connects the visible spring with the traditional story of Saint Adelbert.

Discover more destinations: Schoorl, Groet, Egmond Aan Zee, Bergen, Egmond Aan Den Hoef, Bergen Aan Zee.

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