GA listing Coastal towns which are ideal for short getaways

BONN · For a mini-vacation at the seaside, nobody wants to spend a long time getting there. From Bonn, the coastal towns in Belgium and the Netherlands are the best places to go.

Breathe in the fresh sea air, feel the sand under your feet, hang out at the beach club: All of this awaits visitors who head for the Belgian or Dutch North Sea coast from Bonn, four hours maximum by car.

At 67 kilometers, the coastal stretch in Belgium is not especially long, but it is varied. In the north, Knokke Het Zoute offers a lot of chic and trendy coastal life, but also surfing locations, whereas Oostende is very lively and in the south at De Panne, one can feel the proximity to France. And if you want to leave your car behind, take the coastal train. It goes to all the beach resorts. An overview of the stops can be found here.

Neighboring Holland also has a lot to offer, not to mention 451 kilometers of coastline. From sleepy fishing villages to towns known for a lively nightlife, we have made a small selection here.

Oostduinkerke

The coastal town of Oostduinkerke in the south is famous for its horseback riding crab fishermen. Horseback fishing is a 500-year-old tradition there. The unusual spectacle can be seen from April to September. The fishermen pull their nets behind them while the horse makes its way through the tides on the beach.

If you don't want to miss the fishermen, take a look at the page of the tourism bureau. There the dates are listed with exact times. In 2013, this traditional fishery was even declared a World Heritage Site.

Distance from Bonn: 367 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Liège - Brussels - Ghent - Bruges - Oostduinkerke

De Panne

France is practically around the corner, and this can be felt in the architecture and the attitude to life. Those who want to combine the beach with shopping are in the right place here. The newly designed Zeelaan, one of the shopping districts of the village is an inviting place to browse. On the extraordinarily wide fine sandy beach, one can also have a wonderful walk, sunbathe or simply enjoy the view from one of the beach cafés.

Distance from Bonn: 378 km

Getting there: Aachen - Liège - Brussels - Ghent - Bruges - Oostduinkerke - De Panne

Tourist information:Entdecken

Oostende

Oostende is anything but a small dreamy coastal village. If you want to combine the vibrant life of a city with the flair of a coastal town, you will find a wide range of possibilities in Oostende. Nine kilometers of sandy beach, a sumptuous gastronomy scene and plenty of shopping areas are sure to keep you busy.

Distance from Bonn: 347 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Liège - Brussels - Ghent - Bruges - Oostende

Tourist Information:Visit Oostende

De Haan

Especially sporty visitors get their money's worth in this seaside resort. Tennis, horseback riding, golf, beach sailing and surfing are all available. There are also many wooded dunes in the area, good for hiking. By the way: Albert Einstein lived in the village for a few months after his escape from Germany. One gets a special view of the North Sea from the "Spioenkop". At 31 meters above sea level, the dune is one of the highest on the Belgian coast.

Distance from Bonn: 347 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Liège - Brussels - Ghent - Bruges - De Haan

Tourist information:De Haan Büro für Tourismus

Blankenberge

A pier leads 350 meters straight out to the sea, and at the end there is the Rotunda, a round pavilion with a restaurant and lots of seating. Unfortunately, there is not much left over from the Belle Epoque era, when there were majestic villas all in a row.

Today Blankenberge is primarily a comfortable family town with many attractions for children such as Sea Life or the Velodrom, an oval cycling track from 1933.

Distance from Bonn: 347 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Liège - Brussels - Ghent - Bruges - Blankenberge

Tourist information:Blankenberge Büro für Tourismus

Bruges

Ok, Bruges is not directly by the sea, but as the capital of the province of West Flanders it deserves a visit. It is also on the way if you want to go to the other places on the Belgian coast.

The medieval town center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Many small canals with bridges and small houses line the town. Those interested in art should visit the Groeninge Museum.

Distance from Bonn: 347 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Liège - Brussels - Ghent - Bruges

Tourist information:Visit Bruges

Coastal towns in Holland

Renesse

Known as a party place especially over Pentecost, it's just a short trip to Renesse on the peninsula Schouwen Duiveland on Zeeland and it is well worthwhile during every season and for everyone. The sandy beach, 21 kilometers long, is perfect for horseback riding or long walks. Numerous beach loungers are also available.

Another plus point: dog owners can take their four-legged friends with them to the beach all year round. Last but not least, the place is popular with surfers. On particularly windy days it is worth visiting the beach section at Brouwersdam to watch the kite-surfers and windsurfers.

Distance from Bonn: 324 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Genk - Antwerp - Bergen op Zoom - Goes - Zierikzee - Renesse

Domburg

Domburg is the oldest of the seaside resorts in Zeeland. The town center is situated right on the long sandy beach and connects restaurants, accommodation, cozy cafés and beach pavilions - a fish sandwich before heading to the beach is a must.

In the summer it is very crowded here and the probability is high that one meets neighbors from the Rhineland. But if you want to get a taste of the fresh sea air for a few days or over the weekend, you will always find lodging here. Middelburg, the capital of the province Zeeland, lures visitors for a leisurely stroll through the city.

Distance from Bonn: 324 kilometers

Getting there: Aachen - Genk - Antwerp - Bergen op Zoom - Middelburg - Domburg

Tourist information:Domburg - VVV Zeeland

Scheveningen

Visitors to The Hague's coastal suburb of Scheveningen will find lots of hustle and bustle. The promenade is full of hotels and beach restaurants strung together like a string of pearls.

One can spend a whole day here on the beach. Whether you go out for a long walk with the wind blowing in your face or enjoy a cocktail in the sun at one of the numerous beach bars, these are just two of the many possibilities. In the evening, there are a wide variety of restaurants open on the promenade. Later at night, live music lures visitors to dance in the various beach clubs.

Distance from Bonn: 308 kilometers

Getting there: Duisburg - Arnhem - Uttrecht - Gouda - The Hague - Scheveningen

Rockanje

The small village, just a few kilometers away from Rotterdam, is ideal for an outing to the beach, whether you want to take a walk or sunbathe. Rockanje itself is very quiet. There are a few restaurants, on the beach of course also the obligatory pavilions. If you are looking for a party atmosphere, you have to go to Rotterdam.

Distance from Bonn: 317 kilometers

Getting there: Mönchengladbach - Venlo - Eindhoven - Breda - Dordrecht - A 15 direction Rotterdam/Rozenburg

Zandvoort

Zandvoort stands out for its proximity and direct train connection to Amsterdam. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place. For Zandvoort in northern Holland, its lively party life is an attribute. Until 1985, even Formula 1 was a visitor in the small coastal town.

Distance from Bonn: 306 Kilometers

Getting there: Duisburg - Arnheim - Uttrecht - Amsterdam - Harlem - Zandvoort

Tourist information:http://www.vvvzandvoort.de/

Bloemendaal aan Zee

Just a few kilometers from Amsterdam lies the small coastal town of Bloemendaal aan Zee, where party lovers get their money's worth. On the beach there are many pavilions that are among the best in the Netherlands. Sometimes it happens that several pavilions organize a huge beach party at the same time. There’s a reason this place is compared to the party destination of Ibiza.

Distance from Bonn: 306 kilometers

Getting there: Duisburg - Arnhem - Uttrecht - Amsterdam - Harlem - Bloemendaal

This is a list of coastal towns in Holland and Belgium which is not exhaustive and does not follow objective criteria. It is not a ranking either. The order is arbitrary. Is there a place missing from the list? Send us your favourite coastal locations in Belgium or Holland by e-mail to online@ga.de.

(Orig. text: Susanne Wächter, Sebastian Knauth; Translation: ck)

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