Bergen’s travel profile ranges from modern art and historic buildings to walking and cycling routes. You can tailor the mix of experiences to your interests: art and local history offer a different focus from trails through forests, dunes and polders.
Art, Architectural History and Mills
Museum Kranenburgh focuses on modern and contemporary art. The Bergense School, an art movement influenced by Expressionism and Cubism, forms an important part of its collection, alongside temporary exhibitions. The museum also features an outdoor sculpture garden with works from the collection.
RuĂŻnekerk stands in the centre of Bergen. Its design combines historic walls, open sections of ruin and an intimate church building. Philisteinse Molen is a North Holland internal-post mill, built in 1897 and still in operation. Its history dates back to 1568, when the first polder mill was erected there to drain the Philisteinse Polder.
Damlandermolen is also a distinctive monument: this sturdy, octagonal internal-post mill was built in 1578. It was intended to protect around 135 hectares of waterfront land between the former Bergermeer and the southern edge of Bergen from excess water. Its construction date, purpose and area make the mill a different historical point of reference from Philisteinse Molen, with its continued use and history dating back to 1568.
Kunst10Daagse is a traditional cultural festival held in Bergen and Bergen aan Zee in October. More than 300 artists exhibit at around 160 different venues. Dates and programme vary from year to year; check the relevant edition for your stay.
Cinebergen is housed in the listed Zwarte Schuur on the wooded estate of ’t Oude Hof. Its programme includes world cinema, classics, documentaries and children’s films, as well as special screenings and other events. Individual screenings vary; check the current programme for specific dates.
Walks, Cycling Routes and Nature
Bergerbos lies at the edge of the dunes in Bergen. It offers tree-lined avenues, winding unpaved paths and gently rolling terrain for walks. Bergen’s polder landscape has numerous paths, as well as winding walking and cycling routes. In the dune area, incoming dune water supports distinctive plant life; the nature area around Bergen is also home to many birds, frogs and salamanders.
Noordhollands Duinreservaat stretches from Wijk aan Zee to Bergen. Everyone aged 18 and over needs a Duinkaart to enter the reserve. Two named routes have different starting points: the “Blauwe route” begins in Bergen Centrum, while the Brede Duinenroute runs through the dune and forest area of Schoorlse Duinen. It has previously been named the most beautiful cycling route in the Netherlands.
There is also a way to explore the area by water: the Sloepennetwerk offers boating routes through Bergen and the surrounding area towards Bergermeer, Egmondermeer and Alkmaar. Rental and operating conditions may vary; check them before planning a trip.
Getting to Bergen and Finding Accommodation
When looking for a hotel in Bergen, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first: would you like to spend more time at cultural sites, or mainly go walking and cycling? Bergen can be reached by bicycle, car and public transport. Take your planned activities and the best way to travel for your trip into account when planning.
Discover more destinations: Egmond Aan Den Hoef, Groet, Schoorl, Egmond Aan Zee, Egmond-Binnen, Bergen Aan Zee
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