Birdlife at Schagerwad changes with the seasons. In spring, meadow birds such as lapwings, redshanks and black-tailed godwits can be spotted; in autumn and winter, teal, shovelers and hundreds of wigeons can be seen. During migration in late March and April, waders are present, including bar-tailed godwits, common sandpipers, snipes, ruffs, curlews, golden plovers, wood sandpipers, greenshanks and common greenshanks. Canada geese and hares can be found throughout the year, though individual sightings vary. Schagerwad covers about 100 hectares and is almost entirely owned and managed by Staatsbosbeheer. If you are particularly interested in a certain group of birds, the seasons mentioned can help you plan your visit.

Schagerwad and dunes: nature through the seasons

The Zwanenwater near Callantsoog is a 600-hectare dune area with two dune or beach lakes. It is a Natura 2000 site and is officially designated as a wetland of international importance. Two walking trails pass through the dunes: they are 2.5 and 5.8 kilometres long. Check whether the trails are open before your visit.

Near the Zwanenwater lies the Pettemerduinen, a long, narrow strip of dunes between the Zwanenwater and the dike of the Hondsbossche Zeewering. Here you can walk sheltered by trees and shrubs, enjoy far-reaching views from high dunes and reach the beach. In Petten, the 26-metre-high Piramideduin viewing dune is also worth climbing. From the top, you can see the beach, the dunes, the Noordhollandsch Kanaal, polders with their windmills and, in spring, flowering bulb fields.

The coastal area of the Municipality of Schagen includes the beaches of Callantsoog, Petten, Groote Keeten and Sint Maartenszee. The North Sea coast is more than 17.5 kilometres long. Coastal landscapes sit alongside wetlands and polders as distinct facets of the region, without requiring you to combine them into a set route.

Schagen: history in the townscape

The town of Schagen is thought to have originated in the 10th century and received its town rights in 1415. Slot Schagen dates from around 1440, when the first Lord of Schagen had an existing stone house converted into a square moated castle. A walk through Schagen takes you past numerous historic buildings and the rebuilt Slot Schagen. The Grote Kerk was built between 1895 and 1897 in the neo-Gothic style, based on a design by J.A.G. van der Steur. It is a rare example of this style for a Protestant church. The first recorded mention of a church on the site of the Sint-Christoforuskerk dates from 998; the new Sint-Christoforuskerk was consecrated on 21 October 1883.

Museum Vreeburg is a town farmhouse dating from the 17th century, fully restored in the old style in the historic centre of Schagen; it is also a carriage museum. It offers a glimpse of life and living conditions around 1900, while the Rijtuigmuseum displays authentic carriages from Stichting Westfriese Folklore. Two more museums are housed in the towers of Slot Schagen: Museum Slag van de Somme displays objects from the First World War and is housed in the eastern medieval castle tower at Slotplein 2. Regionaal Museum 1940-1945 Schagen en omstreken is located in the right-hand castle tower of Schagen Castle and offers guided tours about the period from 1940 to 1945, with a particular focus on Schagen and its surroundings. The former town hall houses Cultuurhuis Markt 18, which includes, among other things, the Scagon de Luxe theatre.

For your own explorations of local heritage, the “Erfgoed Schagen in Kaart” app provides access to monuments, cultural-historic features, archaeological information and historical maps of the municipality. Another cultural tradition is Westfriese Folklore, which began in 1953. Every year in July and August, Stichting ter Bevordering Westfriese Folklore organises ten Westfriese Thursdays, each with its own theme. The parade includes around 20 teams of horses and carriages and 350 volunteers; details of the annual programme may vary. Check the specific dates if you would like to plan your visit around them.

Routes and regional perspectives

For a walk through the old terp area on the southern side of the town, the 8.38-kilometre Tolkeroute starts at Slot Schagen. Another walking route, marked in red, is 7.9 kilometres long and runs through the Hondsbossche Duinen. The Pad van Bigot is a walking trail in Petten named after Mart Bigot. Routes and their conditions can change; check the details before setting out.

Cycling routes also offer different perspectives. The 18-kilometre GPS route “Zee, duin, dijk en polder” follows the cycle path along the Hondsbossche Duinen into the hinterland. On the “Karakteristieke dorpjes en Hollandse luchten” cycle route, you pass the thatched polder windmill Molen de Groenvelder, dating from 1572; the route also passes through characteristic polder villages and authentic stolp farmhouses. The “Fietsen langs musea in de regio Schagen” route passes eleven museums in the Schagen region. A 126-kilometre historic dike route connects Schagen with cities such as Hoorn, Alkmaar and Medemblik.

Markets are also part of everyday life in Schagen. The Weekmarkt Schagen takes place every Thursday on Laan and Gedempte Gracht in the town centre and offers, among other things, typical West Frisian products. The Streek-&-Stijl markets take place in the centre of Schagen on the last Sunday in May, July and August. If markets or events are part of your plans, check the relevant dates.

Discover more destinations: Schagen, Waarland, Schagerbrug, Waterland, Uithoorn, Aalsmeer, Beverwijk, Niedorp.

For the overview of the wider area: North Holland.