Europarcs Buitenhuizen

Beach babies make a beeline for the coast and vast sandy stretches like IJmuiden (20 minutes’ drive) and Wijk aan Zee (25 minutes). The North Sea breezes blow fairly constant here, making these places popular among wind- and kitesurfers. Unfurl your towel and watch the experts as they navigate the waves, or hit one of the local surf schools to have a go on a board yourself. You might also like to spend a day in the capital Amsterdam (30 minutes’ drive, 40 minutes by train), where you can cycle along leafy canals, admire works by the Old Masters at the Rijksmuseum or have a moment of reflection at Anne Frank House. Alternatively, head to Haarlem (20 minutes), where you can wander through cobblestone streets and visit colourful tulip fields on the outskirts of the city. A large collection of 18th- and 19th-century windmills and green houses recreates Holland’s classic landscape at the Zaanse Schans district in the town of Zaandam (25 minutes).