Castricum: Dunes, Water Sports and History

Getting to the Dunes

Castricum has its own NS railway station, with direct connections from Amsterdam, Alkmaar, and Haarlem. Check the current timetable before departure, as the exact connections may change. From the station, the Duiningang Zanderij entrance takes you to the dunes in a five-minute walk. A Duinkaart is required to visit the Noordhollands Duinreservaat; check the access requirements before your trip.

If you are planning a visit to Castricum aan Zee, the bike route from the station follows the Zeeweg and takes about 20 minutes. You can rent an OV-fiets at the station; check availability before setting off. The short walk to the dunes and the longer bike ride to Castricum aan Zee are different points of reference for planning your outings.

Dune Landscape and Nature

The dunes and beach ridges east of Castricum are part of the Noordhollands Duinreservaat. The dunes, beach, and dune forests there are protected and open to the public. The reserve covers more than 5,300 hectares; walking and cycling paths wind through dunes, forests, and wet valleys. At the De Hoep visitor centre, you can get route tips and buy dune and walking maps. You can also learn how plants and animals live in the reserve and how nature is used to produce drinking water.

De Zanderij offers a different landscape: the former agricultural and sand-extraction area has been transformed into a nature and recreation area. Gentle dunes, open grasslands, stretches of water, and winding paths define the terrain; wooden boardwalks cross damp dune valleys. De Zanderij can be accessed at several points. One possible starting point is the bicycle parking area on Duinenboschweg, from which you can go straight into the walking area. According to PWN, the Noordhollands Duinreservaat is home to the only known population of rhinoceros beetles in the area. A sighting is not guaranteed.

Routes for Different Distances

Two walks are each eight kilometres long, but differ in their starting points and routes. One route, marked with green triangles, runs through the Noordhollands Duinreservaat. Its official starting point is Johanna's Hof; it can also be reached from Castricum station. Another eight-kilometre route starts at the station and follows the inner edge of the dunes, through extensive polders and a village area, to the centre of Castricum.

For a shorter outing, the one-kilometre audio tour “Rond de Kerk” passes through Kerkbuurt and starts at Dorpskerk Castricum. “Hildes rondje” is an approximately three-kilometre treasure hunt for children that starts at Huis van Hilde. A longer option is the “Tijdpad”: this ten-kilometre route starts at the station and includes 33 viewpoints on the dunes and their history. The “Op zoek naar het Oer-IJ” app includes a northern and a southern route. Both start at Huis van Hilde and are approximately 25 kilometres long.

Water Sports and the Summer Season

Surfschool Castricum offers surfing and kitesurfing lessons, outings, and surf camps. Sports at Sea in Castricum offers kitesurfing, windsurfing, wave surfing, volleyball, rugby, and stand-up paddleboarding; individual activities may vary depending on the programme. The affiliated clubs run workshops, clinics, and lessons throughout the summer season. This gives you a choice of lessons, outings, and other activities on the water for your trip, without assuming that every offering is available at all times.

Archaeological and Historical Themes

At Huis van Hilde in Castricum, an archaeological museum of the province of Noord-Holland presents 10,000 years of regional history through lifelike reconstructions. The former Oer-IJ was the northernmost branch of the Rhine and flowed into the North Sea at Castricum. De Kunstbunker, an art depot in the dunes of Castricum dating from 1939–1940, played a special role in the Second World War: Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch” and art treasures from the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, and other museums were stored there.

Landgoed Duin en Bosch is also part of the municipality of Castricum. Over the course of a hundred years, it developed from an institution into an estate; a walk takes you past houses, monuments, and green spaces. In Akersloot, visitors are welcome at Korenmolen De Oude Knegt when the flag is raised: you can then visit the mill and watch the millers at work. Duintuin Castricum offers a local taste, with honey from a local beekeeper to sample. Check whether this offering is available before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Limmen, De Woude, Akersloot.

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