Egmond aan Zee

Egmond aan Zee is a small resort village set in a gap in the dunes north of Castricum, with a wide beach, a boulevard, seasonal beach clubs and the Jan van Speijk lighthouse - a squat white tower of 1834 built on the site of the village church, which the sea took in the eighteenth century along with a good part of the old settlement. The village behind is compact and the dunes of the Noordhollands Duinreservaat run inland from it. Its annual event is a running race: the Egmond Half Marathon, held on the second Sunday of January since 1973, is run partly along the beach into whatever the North Sea is doing that day, which is usually a headwind and often rain, and it has become one of the largest and most masochistic road races in the country with something over ten thousand entrants.

What you actually see

• A lighthouse on a church site - the 1834 tower where the sea took the old village church.
• A gap in the dunes - the village set in a break with the reserve inland.
• Seasonal beach clubs - the summer bars and restaurants on the sand.
• A January half marathon - run partly on the beach into the North Sea wind since 1973.

When to go

April to September; January for the race. A day.

Honest expectations

The North Sea is cold with rip currents - swim between the flags. Very busy on hot days with limited paid parking. The half marathon closes roads and fills accommodation across the region.

Nearby

Egmond abbey is inland; Bergen aan Zee and Schoorl are north.