Ijmuiden is a down-to-earth port city fringed by a long sandy beach. It’s set at the mouth of the North Sea Canal and is a maritime gateway to Amsterdam. Walk along the windswept beach and watch kite surfers flying through the air. Use Ijmuiden as a base to sightsee in Amsterdam and visit nearby attractions like Keukenhof Gardens, where you’ll be amazed by the sea of tulips in every colour of the rainbow.
Things to do in IJmuiden
Strand Ijmuiden is a beautiful beach in the Netherlands with gold sand and lots of space. It’s flat and expansive, making it a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy the salty air. Strong sea breezes make it popular with wind and kite surfers, who ride the waves and pull off gravity-defying tricks.
Rows of wooden beach huts face the North Sea and are popular with summer holidaymakers. Brightly painted doors and window frames give this section of the beach a postcard-perfect aesthetic. Nearby is a strip of colourful cafes, bistros and ice cream parlours. Sit down for coffee and “bitterballen” deep-fried crispy meatballs topped with mustard.
Learn about the city’s role in World War II at the Bunker Museum. Guided tours take you into cavernous concrete bunkers built by the Nazis in the 1940s. Some of the bunkers are bare and others house exhibits featuring war memorabilia.
Day trip to Haarlem, an enchanting city with cobblestone streets and half-timbered buildings. Like Amsterdam, it’s criss-crossed with canals. Rent a bike and pedal into the countryside to discover fields of tulips and wooden windmills.
Getting around IJmuiden
Ijmuiden is walkable and easy to get around on foot and by bicycle. The city is a 40-minute drive from Amsterdam, while trains run between Amsterdam and Driehuis in 30 minutes. From here, it’s a five-minute drive to Ijmuiden. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a 30-minute drive away.