A real meteorite that visitors are allowed to touch offers an unusual introduction to space exploration in Noordwijk. Dune landscapes and museums covering very different historical topics add their own highlights. Nature, technology and history give you several ways to get to know the town.
Space Exploration You Can Experience Firsthand
Space Expo is the visitor centre for ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk and an interactive experience for curious children and adults. You can walk through a model of the International Space Station (ISS) and see André Kuipers’s original Soyuz capsule. Together with the meteorite visitors can touch, these exhibits bring space exploration to life. If you have a particular exhibit in mind, it’s best to check that it will be available before your trip.
Bunkers and Stories from the Second World War
Atlantikwall Museum Noordwijk features Second World War bunkers, an exhibition and a tunnel system. Its exhibits explain life in the bunkers and how the Germans transformed Europe’s coastline into a fortress. You can explore the fire-control bunker independently with an audio guide; a guide leads tours through the tunnel system. Check the latest visitor information to help plan your visit.
Museum Engelandvaarders tells the story of the young men and women who fled the occupied Netherlands during the Second World War to continue the fight from Britain. It focuses on different experiences of that time: life in the bunkers and the escape undertaken by the Engelandvaarders in their effort to continue the resistance.
Dune Trails, Forest and Sea
Noordwijk has a 13-kilometre sandy beach and lies in the heart of Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen. Hollands Duin stretches between Noordwijk and Noordwijkerhout. Wide dune trails offer views of the beach, sea and spring flower-bulb fields. Landgoed Nieuw Leeuwenhorst, also known as Leeuwenhorstbos, is a wooded area with winding paths, open fields and historic features; it is also part of the national park. In the protected Coepelduynen, open dunes alternate with areas covered in vegetation. These landscapes reveal different sides of the coast, and every view has its own character.
Cycling routes run along the coast and through dunes, forests and villages. Those who prefer to take in the open spaces and changing scenery on foot will find wide paths in Hollands Duin. The coastal waters are suitable for swimming, stand-up paddling, surfing, kitesurfing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and rafting. Which activities are possible depends on conditions and local providers.
Museums, Collections and Gardens
Museum Noordwijk displays traditional costumes and Delftware, as well as works by Oswald Wenckebach and Charlotte van Pallandt. Streekmuseum Veldzicht focuses on growing flower bulbs and herbs, as well as the Blaarkop cattle breed. The grounds include two historic herb gardens, a flower and bulb garden, and a flower-picking garden; the garden layout may change over time. Workshops and talks are regularly held in the bulb barn and stable, and the programme may vary.
Vuurtoren Noordwijk tells a different story: its themed floors explore the history of the lighthouse and its former important link to the rescue service. It is open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in spring, summer and autumn; check the details before your visit. The tower of Oude Jeroenskerk is open to visitors every Saturday. Check visiting hours before your trip. After climbing 147 steps, you’ll reach a height of 45 metres and enjoy views over Noordwijk, the surrounding area and the North Sea.
Churches and Local Traditions
Witte Kerk is a monumental church in the centre of Noordwijkerhout. A stone church with a Romanesque choir was built there in the first half of the 13th century. During Corsoweek, the church on the village square hosts the Flower Event, which is free to visit; dates may vary from year to year. Colourful flower mosaics return to De Zilk every year. During carnival, the local association De Duinknijnen designs several elaborate parade floats.
Getting Around by Bike or Shuttle
Gezellige Terrasjesroute is a culinary cycling tour through Noordwijk and Noordwijkerhout. Stops along the route offer coffee and pastries, lunch or dinner, sometimes with a (sea) view. The route and participating venues may change. To get to Noordwijk beach, the municipal Beach Shuttle offers free parking and a shuttle bus. The service is seasonal, and departure times may change.
Discover more destinations: Noordwijk Aan Zee, Noordwijk, Noordwijk, Albrandswaard, Zuidplas, Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Rozenburg, Korendijk.
Return to the regional travel overview: South Holland.
