Bergen North Holland

Bergen North Holland

The charming villages of Bergen and Bergen aan Zee in North Holland are ideal destinations for a short road trip or weekend getaway, just a 45-minute drive from Amsterdam.

Bergen in North Holland is known for its artists' village and charming centre with its beautiful church square, full of galleries and lovely shops and fashion boutiques. The old village of Bergen has a warm, artistic atmosphere with narrow streets, old facades and charming little terraces. Around the Ruïnekerk (Oude Prinsweg /Dorpsstraat) you will find cosy cafés such as Het Huis met de Pilaren and Cafe Fabel's, where you can sit with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The village is surrounded by forests and the dunes, making it a wonderful place for walking and cycling. Together with a day trip to Alkmaar, this is truly a wonderful spot for a weekend getaway.

Zomerhuis de Tuynkamer Bergen, North Holland

Zomerhuis de Tuynkamer - Highly recommended. This cute romantic cottage with Scandinavian look and feel make you want to stay forever. Beautiful surroundings. Who doesn't want to wake up from the birds singing in the morning? Pure bliss. Oude Natteweg 35 1862 CV Bergen, Netherlands

Read about my stay at Zomerhuis de Tuynkamer

Restaurants Bergen, North Holland

Bergen Binnen - Breelaan 130, 1861 GH Bergen, The Netherlands

Cunst - Kleine Dorpsstraat 1, 1861 KN Bergen, The Netherlands

De Ware Jacob - Jan Jacoblaan 3, 1861 LJ Bergen, The Netherlands

Fabel's Eten & Drinken - Vibrant and cozy, ideal for drinks or dinner with a view of the Ruïnekerk. You can’t make reservations here, so make sure to arrive on time during the weekend. Oude Prinsweg 9, 1861 CS Bergen, The Netherlands

Onder De Linde -Prinsesselaan 22, 1861 EN Bergen, The Netherlands

The Bourbon Room - Jan Oldenburglaan 7, 1861 JS Bergen, The Netherlands

Breakfast, Coffee or Lunch Bergen, North Holland

Bij Merel - Cozy living-room vibes with a seasonal menu; perfect for those who love local, homely spots and are looking for great coffee, fresh juices, homemade cakes, and organic bread. A lovely place in Bergen. Plein 75, 1861 JX Bergen, The Netherlands

ECHT food - Everything at ECHT Food Bergen is healthy, with great attention to fresh, nutritious ingredients. Pure, honest preparation and sustainable choices. A nice spot for coffee and a cake or a tasty lunch. Located opposite the Ruïnekerk of Bergen. Oude Prinsweg 5, 1861 CS Bergen, The Netherlands

Kaatjes Bakery Café Bergen, North Holland – An all-day bakery café, famous for the smell of freshly baked bread and cakes; a paradise for lovers of artisanal pastries. There’s also a branch in Alkmaar.

Lavie Locale Bergen, North Holland – A trendy delicatessen with a cozy atmosphere, where you can enjoy plenty of vegetarian options and various treats: fresh sourdough bread, croissants, wine, cheese, coffee, and sandwiches.

Organic Food for You -  place where organic is central, from coffee to lunch. Enjoy responsibly. Nesdijk 20b, 1861 MK Bergen, The Netherlands

Shopping Bergen, North Holland

Shopping in the charming village of Bergen is a real treat. Beyond the well-known stores like Summum, Sissy Boy, Purdey, and Anna van Toor, the village is full of delightful small fashion boutiques waiting to be discovered. It’s the perfect place to wander, explore, and easily spend a few hours browsing unique finds. Here’s my curated list of the best shops.

Bergerac - A very cool gift, home goods and furniture store. Ruïnelaan 7, 1861 LK Bergen, The Netherlands - bergerac.nl

Camelot Bergen – A very charming fashion store filled with beautiful brands like American Vintage, Ganni, Isabel Marant, and more. Definitely worth popping in for a visit.

Concept Store PT Post - A beautiful concept store with lots of cool clothing brands, accessories, books, gifts and more. Oude Prinsweg 23, 1861 CS Bergen, The Netherlands - ptpost.nl

Eerste Bergensche Boekhandel - I always support local book shops. Oude Prinsweg 11, 1861 CS Bergen, Netherlands - eerstebergenscheboekhandel.nl

Concept store L'Etoile Bergen - Another fantastic boutique store with must-have home items. Minimalist, yet full of style and design flair. Ruïnelaan 12, 1861 LL Bergen, Netherlands

Hip Hop Conceptstore – The go-to shop for second-hand clothing, accessories, toys, and new sustainable brands in Bergen & Alkmaar.

Pragt Store Bergen – A charming little shop with lovely jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings) and stylish clothing. Small but definitely worth a visit to browse.

Stijl Bergen – Two wonderful stores filled with beautiful brands like Absolute Cashmere, Baum and Pferdgarten, Essentiel, Deblon Sports, Farm Rio, Natan, and more.

Stadspaviljoen Noord - An amazing shop! I like everything. From the same owners as Beach Pavilion Noord. Plein 63, 1861 JX Bergen, Netherlands - paviljoennoord.com

What To Do in Bergen, North Holland

Bergen is a real artists' village, famous for the art movement 'De Bergense School' (the Bergen School) It is characterised by an expressionist style, influenced by Cubism. Admire the works at the Kranenburgh Museum or het Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar.

Museum Kranenburgh - Cozy art museum exhibiting 20th- & 21st-century works in a modern interior with a cafe & garden. Hoflaan 26, 1861 CR Bergen, Netherlands - kranenburgh.nl

Noordhollands Duinreservaat - Is one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands. The area stretches from Schoorlse Duinen to Wijk Aan Zee. Coastal nature reserve with beach, dunes, forest areas & a cycle path. Schoorlse Duinen – The highest dune area in the Netherlands, featuring a variety of dense forests, lakes, and heathlands. Over 60 kilometers of trails for walking, running, or cycling in this stunning landscape. At the base of the climbing dune in Schoorl, stop by Joop, a super charming café for coffee, pastries, breakfast, and lunch.

Alkmaar – A lovely city to spend an afternoon. We visited the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar and then walked through the famous Waagplein to the old town, where you can enjoy shopping at Fnidsen. Great shopping tips include the fashion stores of Butik Alkmaar (with three charming locations), Day Woman, and Twin Art Lifestyle. For coffee, cake, or lunch, check out Groen Lokaal or Kaatjes Bakery Café.

Bergen aan Zee, North Holland

The seaside town of Bergen aan Zee is just a three-minute drive from Bergen and offers charming beach clubs. Here, you can enjoy beautiful beaches and scenic walks. Just north of Bergen lie the Schoorlse Duinen, the highest dune area in the Netherlands. A top spot to visit is Strandpaviljoen Noord.

Beach Clubs in Bergen aan Zee, North Holland

Strandpaviljoen Noord – A super lovely place for lunch, drinks, or dinner. Stylishly decorated with colorful lamps and flowers. Enjoyed wonderfully fresh fish with a view of the sea. Inside, you’ll also find a small shop with cute home items and gifts. Highly recommended. C.F. Zeiler Boulevard 3, 1865 BB Bergen aan Zee.

Also try Strandtent Noorderlicht – Strandpaal 32, 1862 VL Bergen aan Zee, or Strandpaviljoen De Jongens – C.F. Zeiler Boulevard, 1865 BB Bergen aan Zee.

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