The Ultimate Hoek Van Holland Travel Guide - Both Feet On The Road (2024)

Hoek van Holland is a small coastal town in the Netherlands, and despite its popularity among locals in summer, Hoek van Holland is not often visited by tourists. But after reading this Hoek van Holland travel guide, you will make sure you pay a visit to the small off-the-beaten destination in the Netherlands.

With its location right at the beach, about 20 kilometers away from Rotterdam, Hoek van Holland makes a great day trip from Rotterdam. Though there are also plenty of things to do in Hoek van Holland to keep you entertained for a few days.

From relaxing at Hoek van Holland beach to learning about a unique water-management system, to visiting an old fort or one of the other interesting museums in Hoek van Holland.

Find out about all the things to do in Hoek van Holland, where to eat and how to get around in this Hoek van Holland Travel Guide!

Table of Contents

Background info
Important things to know

Things to do in Hoek van Holland

#1 Relax Hoek van Holland beach
#2 Ship spotting
#3 Visit the North pier
#4 Maeslantkering: storm surge barrier
#5 Boat tour on the Maasvlakte
#6 Biking and walking
#7 The Atlantikwall Museum
#8 Bunker Bremen
#9 Fort 1881
#10 Jan Lels museum
#11 Museum Rockart

Places to eat and drinks

#1 Beach pavilions
#2 Restaurant Saam
#3 Het Vispaleis
#4 PLST Cafe
#5 Fort 1881

Where to stay?
How to get around?
How to get there?

Hoek van Holland Travel Guide: Background info

As I explained in the introduction, Hoek van Holland is a beach town. It’s quite small in terms of population and size, 10,200 and 14,1 km², respectively. But it’s very popular among the Dutch in the summertime, as many people have seasonal bungalows at the Hoek van Holland camping sites.

Hoek van Holland literally means the Corner of Holland (after its location at the southwestern corner of The Dutch province South Holland) and it’s often referred to as the Hoek or HvH. It is part of the municipality of Rotterdam, hence it has also been referred to as Rotterdam by the sea.

The first settlement at Hoek van Holland was created when the Nieuwe Waterweg or The New Waterway (an important shipping channel from the sea to Rotterdam) was dug between 1866-1868.

However, Hoek van Holland beach only became a popular destination after the First World War, which is when Hoek van Holland slowly started developing and catering towards tourists. During the Second World War Hoek van Holland was an important and strategic place for the Germans as they used the fort as part of the Atlantic Wall.

Check out the things to do in Hoek van Holland to find out how you can learn more about the role of Hoek van Holland during the Second World War.

Lastly, you can also take the Hoek van Holland ferry to England (Essex and Lincolnshire) which is operated by Stena Line.

The Nieuwe Waterweg. Photo courtesy of Frans Berkelaar/CC BY-SA

Hoek van Holland Travel Guide: Important things to know

As Hoek van Holland is a popular beach town in the Netherlands, it is best to visit Hoek van Holland during Dutch spring or summer, when the Dutch weather isn’t as bad.

Though strolling along the beach and visiting the pier is definitely still a great thing to do in Wintertime, many bars, restaurants, museums, and camping parks will close from October – March.

If you do visit around Dutch winter, because it’s still pleasant to bike and walk around Hoek van Holland and Hoek van Holland beach in winter, you do need to check if the things you want to see and do are open.

The Nieuwe Waterweg. Photo courtesy of Frans Berkelaar/CC BY-SA

#1Hoek van Holland Beach

You can’t visit a beach town, without visiting the beach and Hoek van Holland is no exception to that.

I’ll admit, Dutch beaches are not quite famous for their white sand, palm trees, crystal clear water, or amazing coral reef.

There is a reason why The Netherlands is not often mentioned as a great beach destination (and that’s not only due to Dutch sh*tty weather).

I love going to Hoek van Holland beach, don’t get me wrong. But just don’t expect stunning beaches, that’s not what you will find in the Netherlands.

The North Sea is just not that clear and the sand is just not that white. But for a Dutch beach, it’s pretty good. And I mean, no one visits the Netherlands for the sun and beach.

So just see Hoek van Holland beach as an unexpected coastal destination in The Netherlands and you might be surprised.

Visit Hoek van Holland beach with the expectation of seeing beaches as you would in Australia or the Caribbean Islands and you will be disappointed. It’s up to you.

Which Hoek van Holland beach should I visit?

Hoek van Holland beach is actually one long stretch of sand. It’s 250 meters wide and about 3,5 km long. You can divide the 3,5 km into roughly 3 sections.

Starting at the most southern point to the North (up until ‘s Gravenzande beach)

a) The Main Beach near the streets of Badweg and the Zeekant
b) The Hoekse beach near the streets of The Rechtestraat
c) The Nudist Beach (marked on Google Maps as Naaktstrand Hoek van Holland)
d) Northern Beach (marked on Google maps as Vlugtenburg beach)

a) Hoek van Holland main beach

As its name suggests, this is the main beach. It’s the most popular one, and the one with the most beach clubs, pavilions, and shops. It’s also the easiest beach to access from the Metro from Rotterdam. It starts from the pier and then you can walk all the up north to ‘s Gravenzand (if you want)

b) The Hoekse Beach

Type in “Rechtestraat Hoek van Holland” on Google Maps and you will find the Hoekse Beach. This beach is perfect for watersport lovers, you can go surfing, kiting, and windsurfing here. This is also where you will find the schools that offer classes and that rent outfits and equipment.

They also have toilets and showers at the Hoekse beach.

c) The Nudist Hoek van Holland beach.

As you probably already guessed, the nudist beach is where nudist recreation is allowed. Though remember that it is not allowed in the dune area behind the beach.

d) Northern beach

This is Vlugtenburg beach and technically this is already part of ‘s Gravenzande. You can find various beach clubs and pavilions here too.

Hoek van Holland Beach Rules

Before you head to Hoek van Holland beach, make sure you have checked the rules on this website. The two rules I want you to take away from my post are that barbecues and campfires are not allowed on Hoek van Holland beach. And dogs are only allowed at specific times or sections, so make sure you’ve checked that website if you want to take your dog. So you won’t be rewarded with a not so pleasant Dutch fine. Trust me, they can be costly.

#2Ship spotting at Hoek van Holland Haven

Hoek van Holland Haven (harbor) is quite a popular destination for ship lovers, as you will see enormous ships pass through Hoek van Holland Haven.

The Koninging Emmaboulevard (the street from the metro station Hoek van Holland haven to the beach) is a great place to watch ships come in and out of Hoek van Holland Haven.

Annually about 80,000 ships pass by Hoek van Holland, this varies from sailboats to cruises, to small and large cargo ships and even oil rigs.

Check out #3 of the things to do in Hoek van Holland, for another famous ship spotting spot in The Netherlands.

#3Take your shots of The North pier

In Dutch, this is called the Noorderpier. It’s a small stretch that’s open for the public. If I wasn’t such a terrible photographer, I would say it’s one of the most instagrammable spots in Hoek van Holland. But don’t take my word for it.

The Noorderpier is also popular for fishing or ship spotting. Though the waves may be high and strong on the pier, so entering the Noorderpier is always at your own risk.

The Pier of Hoek van Holland. Photo courtesy of kees torn / CC BY-SA

#4The Maeslantkering: A unique Strom Surge Barrier

When I talked about the world heritage listed Windmills at Kinderdijk, I already told you that about a third of The Netherlands is located below sea level.

In other words, if the Dutch would decide to do nothing to protect ourselves from the sea, one-third of the country wouldn’t be here anymore. Logically, there many different ways in which The Netherlands protects its land from the sea and The Maeslantkering is one of those ways.

And boy, what an impressive, ingenious, and unique way that is.

The Maeslantkering are basically two enormous steel “arms” that can open and close if the water level gets too high to protect the land that’s behind the Kering, including my hometown Vlaardingen. The unique feature is the fact that they can open and close only when needed. So that the busy Rotterdam port is not affected when it’s not needed.

So far the Maeslantkering has never been closed because it reached the maximum limit. However, it has been closed when the limit was temporarily lowered, and for testing purposes of course.

To give you an idea of the size of the arms, one arm is about as long as the Eiffeltower!

At the Keringhuis you can learn more about the Maeslantkering, why it was built, how it works, and see it from behind if you decide to take the tour (which I highly recommend).

Practical information

Costs: 4,50 euros for the tour and visitor center combined. 2,5 Euro for just the visitors center.
How to get there: Take the metro to Hoek van Holland Haven station from here it’s another 45-minute walk (4,5km) to the Maeslantkering. Alternatively, you take a taxi or Uber or rent a bike (keep reading this Hoek van Holland Travel Guide to find out where you can rent a bike)
Opening hours: Mo-Fri 10:00-16:00 and Sa-Sun 11:00-17:00
Contact: Makes sure to check the website for opening hours on national holidays and for the current restrictions

Besides the fact that a visit to the Maeslantkering is very interesting, it also looks really cool. And if I wasn’t such a terrible photographer, I would say it’s another one of the most instagrammable places in Hoek van Holland.

#5Boat Tour On The Maasvlakte

A list of things to do in Hoek van Holland, part of the busiest port in Europe, cannot be completed without including a boat tour through the port.

You could either take a boat tour starting in Rotterdam that can take you all the way to Hoek van Holland Haven (for example by Spido).

Or take a tour with Rondvaart Europoort, who’s boarding place is right at the Maeslantkering.

You get to see lots of large cargo ships, the Port of Rotterdam from a side you can’t reach by car, and seals! Yeah, that’s right, you can see seals in Hoek van Holland.

Unfortunately, The Rondvaart Europort website is only available in Dutch. However, on the boat tours, English and German audios are also available. So you would have to get a ticket once you’re there.

Practical information

Costs: 29,95 euro for a 3-hour boat tour or 19.95 for a 90-minute boat tour
How to get there: Head to the Maeslantkering and you will see the boarding spot for Rondvaart Europoort
Operating hours: vary
Contact: You can call (0031) 181 626 126 to make a reservation

The Maasvlakte. Photo courtesy of Nitot / CC BY-SA

Hoek van Holland Ferry: Fast Ferry

Alternatively, you could take the fast ferry to the Maasvlakte, which takes an hour to complete but does not include any audio or explanation. But it does offer a cheaper way to explore the port of Rotterdam.

Do keep in mind that the fast ferry is part of the Dutch public transport, meaning that you need to comply with National Guidelines regarding traveling by public transport (E.g. currently wearing a face mask is mandatory).

You can take your bike on the boat for free

Practical information

Costs: 4,30 euros for a one-way ticket and 6,50 for a return ticket. You CANNOT pay with the OV chipcard
How to get there: The fast ferry boarding is located at the Berghaven, at the Haven weg, 200 meters from Hoek van Holland Haven station
Operating hours: The fast ferry leaves about every hour, but check the website for the current timetable as it varies in winter and summertime
Contact: You buy your ticket on the boat or on the website (only available in Dutch)

#6Biking and walking around Hoek van Holland

The scenery around Hoek van Holland is a typical Dutch coastal landscape. Dunes, dune vegetation, and well of course the beach. This is why biking and walking around are two of the most popular things to do in Hoek van Holland. The trails are very well marked, and you find a biking or hiking trail to match your level of fitness.

Check out this guide for an explanation of each biking and walking trail in Hoek van Holland.

Things to do in Hoek van Holland: Museums

I have to admit, when I started writing this post I was very surprised by the relatively large number of museums in Hoek van Holland. I grew up about 20 minutes away from Hoek van Holland, and I had visited with school trips too. But I never knew there were 5 different museums, in such a tiny area!

#7The Antlantikwall Museum

At the Atlantikwall museum, you will learn about the Atlantic Wall (surprise) part of the German coast defense line during the second world war. The museum is housed in a German bunker that has been adapted to serve as a museum. Even if you are not going inside the museum, it’s an interesting sight.

The museum also offers guided tours (from around 8 euros) that take you to other parts of the Atlantikwall in Hoek van Holland.

Such as

• the Markostand bunker
• the whole corridor system of the bunkers
• bunker 625b
• the Waterbunker

Unfortunately, this part of the website is only available in Dutch and due to corona, these tours are postponed until further notice.

So you will have to wait to be able to join one of those tours and visit the museum to check out the availability and departure times of the tours.

Practical information about The Atlantikwall museum

Costs: 3,00 euro
How to get there: The Atlantikwall museum is very close to the Hoek van Holland Haven metro station, so if you head towards the northern pier along the Noorderhoofd, you will pass by the museum.
Opening hours: Due to corona the museum is temporarily closed. So currently you can only check out the bunker from outside.
Contact: Check out the Website

The Atlantikwall Museum. Photo courtesy of kees torn / CC BY-SA

#8Bunker Bremen stichting Fort aan den Hoek van Holland

Bunker Bremen is also a bunker from the second world war. However, unlike the bunker that houses the Atlantikwall museum, Bunker Bremer was used by the Dutch Royal Marine during the cold war.

It’s part of the Dutch Military Coast Defense Museum and shows expositions with pictures from the second world war and a movie about Bunker Bremen’s function during the second and later the cold war.

Practical information about Bunker Bremen

Costs: 5,00 euro
How to book: Send an email to bunkerbremen@forthvh.nl
How to get there: It’s about 1,2 km away from Hoek van Holland Haven metro station
Website: Only available in Dutch
Opening hours:Bunker Bremen is only opened on Saturday afternoon and your need to pre-book your visit by email. There are three available timeslots. 13:00, 14:00, and 15:00.

#9Fort 1881

With its strategic location right at the sea, Hoek van Holland was a popular location for coastal defense lines. Which is why many of the things to do in Hoek van Holland include bunkers and forts. And the Fort aan den Hoek van Holland is another fort that was built to protect it from outsiders.

It was finished in 1881 (hence the name Fort 1881) by the Dutch to protect the Nieuwe Waterweg. It was one of the most modern forts in Europe (at that time of course).

And even though there are six cannons at the fort, they have never been used. If you are wondering why you should definitely pay a visit to the museum.

The museum tells the history of the fort, how the soldiers lived in the fort, and what its function was during the second world war. You can watch a movie or check out the exhibitions.

If you are not that interested in the museum itself, you can also check out their restaurant (more about that later in this Hoek van Holland Travel Guide).

Practical information about Fort 1881

Costs: 7,50 euro (you can also book through info@fort1881.nl or call (0031) 088 1881 500
Getting there: Fort 1881 is located about 500 meters away from Hoek van Holland Haven station at Stationsweg.
Opening hours: Thu-Sun 11:00-16:00
Website: Only available in Dutch

Fort 1881. Photo courtesy of Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed / CC BY-SA

#10Jan Lels Museum: A Rescue and Ferry Museum

The Jan Lels Museum is also housed in an old bunker. It tells the history of the rescue station at Hoek van Holland and the stories of various ships that have stranded at Hoek van Holland. It also houses the National ferry service museum that shows the history of the Dutch ferry services.

Practical information about the Jan Lels Museum

Costs: 3,00 euro
Getting there: The Jan Lels museum is located on the Badweg, which is a 20-minute walk from Hoek van Holland Haven metro station.
Opening hours: Wed 13:00-16:30, every first Sa-tSun of the month 13:30-16:30. If you wish to visit the museum on other days or times, you can contact the museum in advance and schedule another appointment. The museum is closed in December and January
Website: The Jan Lels Website is only available in Dutch
Contact: janlels@tele2.nl or (0031) 174 38 47 64

Fort 1881. Photo courtesy of Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed / CC BY-SA

#11Museum Rockart

I’ll admit, I was quite surprised to find out that one of the things to do in Hoek van Holland was to visit a Rockart Museum.

The museum tells the story of Dutch music history from the 50s to now. They show movie clips, sounds, and information about some of the most famous Dutch music artists from Jazz to Rock ‘n Roll.

They also have a shop that’s sells everything from CDs, to music-related accessories such as keyrings and shirts from artists across the globe.

Practical information about Museum Rockart

Costs: 7,50 euros
Getting there: Museum Rockart is located on the Zekkenstraat, which is in the middle of the Maeslantkering and Hoek van Holland Haven (about 1km away)
Opening hours: In July and August the museum is opened Wed-Sat 11:00-16:00 and every first Sunday of the month from 111:00-16:00
Website: The Rockart website is only available in Dutch

Places to eat and drink in Hoek van Holland

There are plenty of places to eat in Hoek van Holland. However, remember what I talked about earlier in this Hoek van Holland Travel guide?

Some bars and restaurants may close between October and March, so make sure you check whether the restaurants are open before you visit Hoek van Holland at that time.

#1Beach Pavilions

I am not going to mention all the beach pavilions in this Hoek van Holland Travel guide. If you just head to the main beach (the one near Badweg and the Zeekant), you find plenty of choices.

Keep in mind that restaurants right at the beach tend to be pricier than others. But on a sunny day, it is definitely worth it to sit by the sea, watch people and enjoy a nice meal!

#2Restaurant Saam for traditional Dutch Pancakes

If you have read my Guide to traditional Dutch food, you will know about the Dutch Pannenkoeken (which are some of the few Dutch foods, I actually like). And restaurant Saam offers a lot of different options to try the famous Dutch pannenkoeken.

Don’t worry. If you are not fond of trying Dutch food after having read my guide, Restaurant Saam also offers plenty of other types of foods. From nachos to schnitzels to vegetarian options. So I am sure you will be able to find something you like.

Check out their English menu here. The restaurant is also close to many of the other things to do in Hoek van Holland I talked about, on The Prins Hendrik straat, only 8 minutes from the Hoek van Holland Haven metro station.

#4Plstk Café at The Sea Tower

The Plstk cafe has an awesome location right at the Zeetoren (Sea Tower) of Hoek van Holland. If you want to sit inside the restaurant you will need to make a reservation, but for a spot on the terrace, you don’t.

It’s a great place for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a cup of coffee, though a bit pricy (check out the menu here), but you do get a great location in return.

Their website is only available in Dutch, so send an email to info@plstcafe.nl or call (0031) 174 785 016 to make your reservations.

Plstk café and the Zeetoren are located near the Hoekse and the Nudist Hoek van Holland beach at the Helmweg. The restaurant is opened every day of the week from 09:00-21:00

De Zeetoren. Photo courtesy of Joris / CC BY-SA

#3Het Vispaleis

I cannot write a Hoek van Holland travel Guide without including Het Vispaleis. Het Vispaleis is a well-known concept in Hoek van Holland and its a popular stop for visitors and locals alike.

Het Vispaleis literally translates to the Fish Palace, and I guess it comes as no surprise that you can find a lot of different fish options here.

If you have checked my Dutch Food Guide, you will know about two traditional Dutch Fish you should try here. And check out my Dutch drinks guide to find out which traditional Dutch drinks goes best with that fish!

One, I am not very fond of (and it’s also not available year-round), but the other one is a must-try!

Het Vispaleis is located on the Koningin Emmaboulevard, so it’s easily combined with the other things to do in Hoek van Holland. When you are checking out the large boats on the Nieuwe Waterweg and making your way to the Noorderpier, Het Vispaleis is a well-deserved stop for some traditional Dutch food.

#5Fort 1881 restaurant

The last restaurant I will cover in this Hoek van Holland Travel guide is the Fort 1881 restaurant, simply because it’s a cool location too. Right at a historic Dutch Fort, with a terrace in a food-truck festival style.

The Fort 1881 is opened from Thu-Sun from 11:00 onwards. You can make a reservation through (0031) 88 1881 500 or (0031) 6 49 3160 72.

Where to stay in Hoek van Holland?

It is definitely doable to visit Hoek van Holland as a day trip from Rotterdam, but staying in Hoek van Holland for a few nights is also really nice to get the area better, and have more time to relax at the beach.

Budget accommodation Hoek van Holland

There are no hostels in Hoek van Holland, so the cheapest option would be to camp on Camping Hoek van Holland (you do need to bring your own camping gear though). You can contact them through campinghvh@rotterdam.nl or (0031) 174 382 550

Other accommodation Hoek van Holland

Hotel Noordzee or Hotel Kuiperduin are two cheaper options, but check out all options on booking here.

How to get around Hoek van Holland

You may have already noticed that all things to do in Hoek van Holland are walkable from the Hoek van Holland Haven metro station. And the good thing is that most of the attractions are also located within close reach of each other (with a few exceptions). So it’s definitely doable to visit all the things to do in Hoek van Holland on foot.

Though I’ll be honest, it will be exhausting and you probably do need a taxi to get to the Maeslantkering and Museum Rockart, because those are the only two things to do in Hoek van Holland in the other direction.

So a better way (in my opinion) to explore Hoek van Holland, is by renting a bike. You can rent a bike for a day for around 9 euro.

Bike rental Hoek van Holland

Two bike rentals are located at the Pirns Hendrik straat, Peter van Leeuwen Tweewielers ar Kleijn Tweewielers.

Peter van Leeuwen Tweewielers

Open: Mon-Tue and Thu-Fri 08:30-12:30 and 13:30-18:00, Sat 8:30-17:00
Contact: info@vanleeuwenfietsen.nl or (0031) 174 387895

Kleijn Tweewielers

Opening hours: Tu-Sa from 08:00-17:30 (on Saturday they’re open until 16:00).
Contact: hvh@kleijntweewielers.nl or (0031) 174 382318

Getting to Hoek van Holland

After reading this Hoek van Holland travel guide, you probably already guessed that Hoek van Holland Haven was the best place to start from.

And whether you’re coming from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Utrecht, the metro is also the fastest way to get to Hoek van Holland. Depending on where about from The Hague you are coming, you may need to take a bus.

Use the 9292 app or website to plan your trip to Hoek van Holland from your accommodation. And the app will tell you exactly what time your options are, where to leave from, which train, bus or metro to take, how long it takes, and how much it will cost.

From the center of Rotterdam, it takes about 35 minutes, from Amsterdam an hour and 35 minutes, and from Utrecht about an hour and 25 minutes.

Remember that the last metro leaves Hoek van Holland Haven to Schiedam and Rotterdam at 01:00.

Also, make sure you have checked the Dutch regulations for traveling by public transport. At the time writing this post, wearing non-medical masks is mandatory.

Hoek van Holland Haven Metro Station. Photo courtesy of Smiley.toerist / CC BY-SA