Sun, Sand, and Cycle Paths: An Expat’s Guide to Summer in the Netherlands
The days become incredibly long (with daylight lasting until nearly 10:00 PM in June), the terrace culture erupts, and the flat, green landscape becomes an open invitation for exploration.
For expats, the Dutch summer is the perfect season to move beyond the major cities and discover the unique charm of the Netherlands’ nature and coastline.
Embrace the Coast
While it might not be the Mediterranean, the Dutch coastline offers stunning, wide expanses of sandy beaches and dramatic dune landscapes.
- Scheveningen & Zandvoort: If you enjoy a vibrant atmosphere with beach bars, music, and crowds, these popular resorts near The Hague and Amsterdam are the places to be.
- Zeeland: For a quieter, more relaxed experience, head south to the province of Zeeland. It’s famous for having the cleanest beaches in the country, excellent water sports, and fantastic seafood.
- The Wadden Islands (Waddeneilanden): For a true escape, take a ferry to one of the five inhabited islands in the north (Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog). They offer pristine nature, car-free zones (on some islands), and a slower pace of life.
Explore the National Parks
The Netherlands possesses surprising natural diversity, which is often overlooked. Summer is the ideal time to explore its well-maintained national parks.
- Hoge Veluwe National Park: Perhaps the most famous park, it offers a stunning mix of woodlands, heathlands, and dramatic shift-sand dunes. The park provides free "White Bikes" (Witte Fietsen) at the entrances, allowing you to explore its extensive paths easily. It's also home to the world-renowned Kröller-Müller Museum.
- Biesbosch National Park: A unique freshwater tidal wetland area. The best way to experience the Biesbosch is by water; you can rent a small motorboat, canoe, or take a guided whisper boat tour through its maze of rivers and creeks.
Get on Your Bike (Seriously!)
You cannot truly experience a Dutch summer without a proper cycle trip. The entire country is interconnected by an ingenious system of cycle paths (fietspaden) that are safe, flat, and take you through areas inaccessible by car.
Look for the knooppunten system—a network of numbered intersections. You can easily plan a route online, noting the sequence of numbers, and then follow the excellent signage through the countryside, taking you past windmills, canals, and charming villages.
The Quintessential Dutch Summer View
To capture the essence of what makes the countryside so special this time of year, we’ve included this quintessential snapshot of the Dutch summer landscape.
