Noordwijk: Beach, Atlantic Wall and Art

Noordwijk can be explored through three themes: the coastal resort of Noordwijk aan Zee, the history of the Atlantic Wall and the places associated with the Max Liebermann Route. If you’re looking for a hotel in Noordwijk, you can start by considering which of these perspectives you want to shape your stay. The following destinations offer concrete points of reference: a 13-kilometre-long beach, a hiking route through the dunes, a museum in a bunker and artworks at the places where Max Liebermann painted.

Atlantic Wall: Museum and Hiking Route

The Atlantic Wall hiking route starts at the Atlantic Wall Museum Noordwijk and runs through the dunes north of Noordwijk, passing remnants of the Atlantic Wall defensive line from the Second World War. It is accessible even outside the museum’s opening hours. If you would also like to visit the museum, check its opening hours separately. The route and museum visit are therefore two separate points to consider when planning.

The museum is housed in the former S414 fire-control post, a three-storey bunker. Visitors can explore a gun bunker and two troop bunkers via a tunnel system more than 400 metres long. The museum visit thus connects the former fire-control post with other parts of the bunker complex.

Along the hiking route, the bunkers serve as a bat sanctuary and are therefore protected. This protected status adds a present-day function to the historical perspective on the remnants of the defensive line. The route thus brings together two themes: the history of the Atlantic Wall and the protection of the bunkers as a bat sanctuary.

Beach, Lighthouse and Thalasso Rest Stop

Noordwijk aan Zee has a 13-kilometre-long beach and has been an attractive seaside resort for tourists since 1866. Another historical landmark is Vuurtoren Noordwijk: construction began in 1922. The two dates mark different aspects: 1866 refers to the seaside resort’s appeal to tourists, while 1922 marks the start of the lighthouse’s construction.

At beach access point 10, a platform has been set up as a Thalasso rest stop. From there, you can look out over the sea, the beach and the surf line. Visitors can take a seat on one of the benches and experience the effects. This makes the beach access point a specific landmark for a seaside visit: the platform offers views and seating, while the 13 kilometres describe the extent of the entire beach.

Art Locations on the Max Liebermann Route

The Max Liebermann Route leads to 24 artworks at the places in Noordwijk where Max Liebermann actually painted. The connection between each artwork and its location gives the route a distinctive sense of place: it leads not only to a number of works, but also to the sites where they were created. If you’re weighing up the two routes, the difference in focus is clear: Liebermann’s route centres on art and the places where he painted, while the Atlantic Wall hiking route focuses on remnants of the war and the protected bunkers.

When planning your trip, these themes can serve as different reasons to stay in Noordwijk. The coastal attractions include the beach, the seaside resort and the platform at beach access point 10; the two routes, by contrast, explore art history and the history of the Atlantic Wall. This can help you decide which perspective matters most to you.

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