Facts and figures
The
13 km long sandy beach, alluring boulevards and rugged dunes bordered by
woodlands all make Noordwijk aan Zee a very appealing spot for Dutch and
foreign tourists alike. Noordwijk lends its name of the 'floral seaside
resort of Europe' from the fact that it is situated in the midst of the
bulb-growing region. Noordwijk is the only local authority in
South-Holland where more than half of its entire surface area (53% in
fact) comprises natural landscape: dunes, woodlands, parks and public
gardens. Moreover, Noordwijk has again this year been awarded the Blue
Flag – the international status annually granted to beaches and marinas
which are safe and clean.
Noordwijk facts
- 24,707 inhabitants
- ± 1,000,000 overnight stays per year
- No. 2 congress spot in the Netherlands
- ± 251 international congresses per year
- 25 km from Amsterdam
- 25 km from Schiphol
- 20 km from the Hague
- 40 km from Rotterdam Airport
- 13 km coast line
- Number of hotel/B&B beds: ± 3800
- 10 camp sites in the region
- Home to the ESA ESTEC (European Space Research and Technology Centre)
Year round appeal
Noordwijk
has numerous first-rate events on offer, such as the painting festival
and the flower pageant. During Springtime the blooming bulb fields in
this bulb-growing region, along with the illustrious Keukenhof are hot
tourist spots. In Summertime it's the Noordwijk beach life and Kager
lake tours. Autumn and Winter are the best times to blow the cobwebs
away on the beach, and to enjoy the Christmas spirit and events, as
Noordwijk transforms itself into a Christmas village by the sea.
Noordwijk is at all times attractive: with friendly beach pavilions and
the historic village centre of Noordwijk Binnen. Modern: with a vast
range of shops and a chic shopping promenade. Cultural: with amongst
others, the De Muze playhouse and its broad programme. Sporty: with
endless possibilities such as cycling, golf, walking, horse riding etc.
Versatile excellence
It's
not only the town of Noordwijk itself which has much to offer, its
surroundings do too. To the South of Noordwijk lies the fishing village
of Katwijk as well as the cultural city of Leiden, and its many splendid
museums. Noordwijk is centrally located, with as such a perfect base for
exploring the region. The cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Haarlem and
the Hague, which are all packed full with attractions, are but 30
minutes' drive away.
Within Noordwijk there are numerous accommodation venues and eating places: from top restaurants, cafés, convivial pubs, and beach cafés to discos. The recreational facilities in Noordwijk are extremely diverse. One can swim or sail in the sea or sunbathe, walk and go horse riding on the beach. Delightful walks or cycling trips can be made through the dunes, flower fields and woodlands. Furthermore one can play (midget) golf, go bowling or wend one's way through the historical centre of Noordwijk Binnen.
Noordwijk Binnen is renowned for its stately mansions, which were built during the Golden Age by Dutch merchants. Likewise it is famed for the Grote St. Jeroens church, which dates back to the fifteenth century and the linden trees, the oldest of which were planted back in 1740. In 1992 the old village centre was listed under a protected site as per the 1988 Monument Law.
No. 2 congress location in the Netherlands
It is not only tourists who are drawn to Noordwijk. Due to its central location and the large number of the variety of hotels and first-rate congress facilities on offer, many conference delegates come here too.