Egmond-Binnen combines monastic history with garden attractions and paths around its historic centre. At Abdij van Egmond, tours, architecture and collections take centre stage; the garden area, which is open to the public, offers a unique opportunity to discover butterflies and plants. Other highlights include the Adelbertusakker on the edge of the dunes and the signposted Monnikenpad, which passes the historic centre. When planning your visit, it is worth keeping the tour formats and the different features of the garden and trails in mind.

Tours and the history of the abbey

A professional tour of the monastic world of Abdij van Egmond can be booked by appointment from Tuesday to Friday for groups of ten or more; it lasts about an hour and a half. The public tour starts on Saturdays at 14:00. You can register for it only at the abbey shop ticket desk on the day. If you want to plan your visit around a particular tour, check the latest dates and registration information in advance.

The tour introduces the architecture of Abdij van Egmond, the monumental abbey church with relics of Saint Adelbert, and the tomb of Count Floris van Egmont. It also features archaeological finds and a scale model, showing what the abbey grounds are thought to have looked like from the Middle Ages until the 16th century. The programme therefore includes both surviving artefacts and a vivid depiction of the former complex. The Abdijmuseum preserves historical objects, books and documents from Sint Adelbertabdij and displays them to a wide audience.

Gardens and special insights

The part of the Abdij van Egmond garden that is open to the public includes a butterfly garden. There, you can learn about butterflies, flowers and the host plants they need. The garden is divided into a naturalistic area with a small pond and a cultivated garden with nectar-rich plants. Each area has its own focus: one features natural landscaping with a pond, while the other offers nectar-rich plants.

A monthly ecology tour also offers the opportunity to visit parts of the abbey that are normally closed to the public. The places visited include the butterfly garden, herb garden, edible woodland and the abbey’s vegetable garden. The abbey shop adds local products to your visit: it sells two varieties developed in partnership with local cheesemaker De Franschman—Abdijkaas with mustard and pepper, and honey clover Abdijkaas.

Adelbertusakker and trails

The Adelbertusakker is on the edge of the dunes near Egmond-Binnen. It is named after Saint Adelbert, who preached Christianity there in the Early Middle Ages and was buried on the akker after his death. The Adelbertusput can also be seen there. The site is presented as a historic place of rest, tranquillity and reflection. It offers a different perspective on the history of the area from the abbey’s architecture and collections.

For a walk, the signposted Monnikenpad circular route passes the historic centre of Egmond-Binnen. There is access to the dunes from Middenweg in Egmond-Binnen. A dune card is required to visit Noordhollands Duinreservaat. This allows the local walking route and access to the dune area to be considered as separate options for outdoor activities, rather than combining them into a single route.

Discover more destinations: Bergen Aan Zee, Bergen, Groet, Egmond Aan Zee, Schoorl, Egmond Aan Den Hoef.

Go to the main travel overview: Bergen.