Schoorl: Dunes, Nature and Culture

Schoorl combines a varied natural landscape with local history and arts. The Schoorlse Duinen shape many of the opportunities that make the area an interesting place to stay: they bring together beach, dunes, forests and heathland. There are also routes for different modes of travel, distinctive landscape features and cultural offerings with a range of historical and temporal connections.

Dune landscape and routes

The Schoorlse Duinen are the highest dune area in the north of the province of Noord-Holland and are protected as a Natura 2000 site. If you want to explore the landscape on foot, you’ll find more than 60 kilometres of walking trails there. For cyclists, there are more than 20 kilometres of paved cycle paths. This makes it possible to consider walking and cycling opportunities separately, without implying that both distance figures describe the same network of routes.

Various walking and cycling routes start at the Buitencentrum Schoorlse Duinen. You can also get information there about the Schoorlse Duinen nature area. The Schoorlse Duinen audio route combines nature and culture and is available as a 22- or 28-kilometre route. As linked route details may change, check the latest information in advance. Another option is the family route: it starts at the Buitencentrum and leads through the dunes and the village of Schoorl.

The Buitencentrum shop sells unique regional products. Check what’s available before your trip if you plan to visit the shop.

Natural features and special activities

At De Kerf, North Sea water can flow into the dune valleys behind it during spring tides and northwesterly storms. The Klimduin offers a different kind of experience: the dune is 51 metres high; visitors climb to the top and can then run or roll down. Behind the Schoorlse Duinen lies Schoorl aan Zee beach, which can only be reached on foot or by bicycle.

Horse riding is another way to experience the area. Duinmanege van Poelenburgh is located on the edge of the Schoorlse Duinen, at Duinweg 129 in Schoorl. It offers outdoor rides every day for different skill levels. So, alongside walking and cycling routes, horse riding is a separate activity to consider.

Local history and arts

Schoorl’s historic buildings include the Korenmolen, known as “Kijkduin”, and the Raadhuisje van Schoorl. The mill was built in 1772 and the Raadhuisje in 1601. These dates therefore mark two distinct historical reference points for exploring the town’s architectural history.

The arts offerings also vary in type and timing. SchoK is an international art event featuring professional contemporary artists; it has been held in June of odd-numbered years since 1997. SchiK is an art trail featuring artists from Schoorl, held in even-numbered years. If an arts event is important to your travel dates, check the latest event schedule.

Schoorl is also home to a monumental Baroque organ by Matthias Verhofstad, dating from 1716, which is available for organ concerts. This adds concerts as a cultural point of interest alongside arts events and historic buildings.

Which activities suit your trip?

The activities offer different experiences: walking and cycling routes provide longer distances, the Klimduin offers a specific climb followed by a descent, and at De Kerf, spring tides and northwesterly storms determine when North Sea water can flow into the dune valleys. These differences can help you shape the nature-focused part of your stay around exercise, a landscape feature or a natural phenomenon. Local history and the arts add their own themes to these options, without requiring you to follow a particular itinerary.

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

Back to the main travel overview: Bergen.