Sint Maartenszee lies at the foot of the dunes. Beyond the bathing area, the dunes are part of the Natura 2000 site “Zwanenwater en Petterduinen.” The Rijkswaterstaat profile dated 12 March 2025 explicitly identifies this connection to the protected area. This puts a protected dune landscape alongside the coastal setting. When choosing your destination, you can therefore consider whether you mainly want to use the beach access points or explore the surrounding nature.

Beach Access and Getting There

The Sint Maartenszee bathing area has two main beach entrances: “Sint Maartenszee Zuid” and “Sint Maartenszee Noord.” They are accessible only to pedestrians, cyclists and people with an exemption permit. Cars are not allowed to drive to the beach entrances unless such a permit has been granted. If a beach visit is part of your stay, factor this rule into your daily plans and check the local access regulations before travelling. The two entrances are therefore not just landmarks, but also an important practical consideration when planning your beach activities.

Spring Blossoms and Wildrijk

In spring, crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips bloom in succession in the fields around Sint Maartenszee. At the Wildrijk nature reserve, spring takes a different form: the forest floor is then covered by a blue carpet of wild hyacinths. Wildrijk offers a walk of around an hour, especially at this time of year. The two natural landscapes offer different highlights: one flower follows another in the fields, while hyacinths carpet the forest floor. If the spring landscape matters to your trip, these recurring features provide a specific seasonal focus. The protected area's history is also part of the story: Wildrijk was protected through its purchase in 1940.

Water, Dunes and Protected Area

Another landscape feature is the Duinrellen. On both sides of the Zeeweg, very clean water flows there from the freshwater lens in the dunes. The water is channelled into the nearby Wildrijk nature reserve through a specially constructed connecting ditch. The banks of the Duinrellen in Sint Maartenszee have been designed with ecology in mind. This means that the natural side of the area can be appreciated through more than flowers and woodland: the connection between dune water, the Duinrellen and the protected area is another striking feature. Anyone interested in landscapes and natural connections will find a different perspective here than in the seasonal blossoms.

Activities with Different Highlights

Land van Fluwel has a barefoot trail. It is easy to reach Land van Fluwel by bicycle or car; check the route conditions before setting out. Speelpark De Goudvis is located in Sint Maartenszee and has three indoor play worlds, with a total of more than 2,200 m² of covered play space. The activities are quite different: one offers a barefoot trail, while the other has several indoor play areas. At De Goudvis, the stated area refers to all three play worlds combined. When choosing what to do, you can decide whether you would prefer to plan for a trail or a larger indoor play offering.

Tailor Your Stay

When looking for hotels in Sint Maartenszee, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. The nature highlights are described especially in relation to spring, while beach plans depend on the rules for the two access points. These are two separate questions: when would you like to see the spring blossoms, and which access rules matter for your beach visit? If you also take the barefoot trail or indoor play worlds into account, you can choose your destination based on the activities that matter to you. Before travelling, check the local beach rules and, if you are going to Land van Fluwel, the route conditions.

For the broader travel overview: Zijpe.