Noordwijk Guide

June 30 - July 3 (2016)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• There is a bus station in Noordwijk, but the closest train station is in Leiden. We traveled here from Amsterdam by car.

• While Noordwijk is a beach-town, it was cold and rainy when we went - make sure to bring a raincoat.

• There are lots of outdoor activities, including biking, kitesurfing and golfing!

FUN FACT
Noordwijk is home to the European Space Research and Technology Centre. Even though the center isn't open to the public, you can still walk around the compound.

Noordwijk is a small province in South Holland. It is located along the coast of the North Sea on the western side of the Netherlands. Originally a fisherman village, Noordwijk is now known for its seaside resorts and outdoorsy-ness. One day, we rented bikes and rode around the countryside and through nearby towns. It was very pleasant until we got lost. And then it started to rain.

Unfortunately, the weather was pretty terrible during our stay. I would have liked to sit on the beach or try kitesurfing. Maybe next time.

If you need a break from being outside, visit the Museum Engelandvaarders. Built in an old World War II munition bunker, this museum is dedicated to the men and women, called Engelandvaarders, who tried crossing the North Sea during the War. The museum was super cool and had a ton of artifacts, including a boat used for the crossing.

You can find more information here.

We took a day trip to the nearby city Leiden, which was a fun place to walk around. We were able to tour the windmill, De Valk. Built in 1611, the windmill began operating fully again in 2000.

After our visit in Leiden, we took a train to Hague, also known as the International City for Justice and Peace. Hague is a pretty important city, housing the International Court of Justice, Peace Palace and over 100 international organizations. While there is a ton to do here, our day-visit was cut short when it started to rain (again).