Whitney's Hoek Van Holland Guidebook

Whitney
Whitney's Hoek Van Holland Guidebook

Cafes & Restaurants

Plant based beach club/restaurant. Sushi, burgers, tacos, smoothie bowls. This place is not on the main strip of HVH therefore is quieter and more chill! Hippy, surfer vibes.(rent SUP near here!)
8 locals recommend
Pele Surfshack
24 Rechtestraat
8 locals recommend
Plant based beach club/restaurant. Sushi, burgers, tacos, smoothie bowls. This place is not on the main strip of HVH therefore is quieter and more chill! Hippy, surfer vibes.(rent SUP near here!)
Not technically in HVH, in 'S-Gravenzande, this is a super spot no matter your age, or group. Kids/couple date/Seniors or just want a quiet tea and appeltart. Great wood-oven pizza, antipasti, local beers in a very cool hippy and laid back environment. Guardian ranked them one of the top beach bars in Europe. Not fancy, but very awesome and chill. Recommend coming here for a sunset with some wine. Really good prices here and even better vibes. Cute dog on site, and stuff for kids.
16 locals recommend
Strandtent De Pit
Slag Vlugtenburg
16 locals recommend
Not technically in HVH, in 'S-Gravenzande, this is a super spot no matter your age, or group. Kids/couple date/Seniors or just want a quiet tea and appeltart. Great wood-oven pizza, antipasti, local beers in a very cool hippy and laid back environment. Guardian ranked them one of the top beach bars in Europe. Not fancy, but very awesome and chill. Recommend coming here for a sunset with some wine. Really good prices here and even better vibes. Cute dog on site, and stuff for kids.
Newest place, wonderful diverse menu ranging from Acai bowls to pancakes to burgers. International menu. Not so typical Dutch, Nice food diversity. Lots of space and its insta-worthy if your looking for it. Wood tones, olive trees and airy beach vibes. Nomad friendly - I work often from here when I am visiting the area. Wheelchair friendly from accessible parking lot. Please be advised the accessible parking lot which is directly at the cafes may be hard to access during summer 2021 as there is a tram construction. Call restaurant ahead to be sure.
Uluwatu Beach
57 Zeekant
Newest place, wonderful diverse menu ranging from Acai bowls to pancakes to burgers. International menu. Not so typical Dutch, Nice food diversity. Lots of space and its insta-worthy if your looking for it. Wood tones, olive trees and airy beach vibes. Nomad friendly - I work often from here when I am visiting the area. Wheelchair friendly from accessible parking lot. Please be advised the accessible parking lot which is directly at the cafes may be hard to access during summer 2021 as there is a tram construction. Call restaurant ahead to be sure.
Also off the main strip, off the beach tucked away in the dunes PLSTK Cafe is inside a zeetoren. Overlooking the dunes it is a great spot for sunset. Diverse menu with plenty of plant option as well. 90% plastic free place which is awesome. Safari vibes and rarely visited by tourists - its a secret!
PLSTK Café
7 Helmweg
Also off the main strip, off the beach tucked away in the dunes PLSTK Cafe is inside a zeetoren. Overlooking the dunes it is a great spot for sunset. Diverse menu with plenty of plant option as well. 90% plastic free place which is awesome. Safari vibes and rarely visited by tourists - its a secret!
NON BEACH FOOD OPTION: Walking distance from the house at the end of the street! Fantastic menu and gorgeous multiple patios. A bit pricey but very good ambience and food. Nice for a date night out or great relaxing afternoon . Reservation recommended.
De Viersprong
10 Nieuwlandsedijk
NON BEACH FOOD OPTION: Walking distance from the house at the end of the street! Fantastic menu and gorgeous multiple patios. A bit pricey but very good ambience and food. Nice for a date night out or great relaxing afternoon . Reservation recommended.
NON BEACH FOOD OPTION: 7mn drive or 10 mn bike from the house to the next village over S'Gravenzande. Steak, Fish, Ribs and more in very cosy location. Female owned. Reservation recommended.
Bistro De Herberg
201 Langestraat
NON BEACH FOOD OPTION: 7mn drive or 10 mn bike from the house to the next village over S'Gravenzande. Steak, Fish, Ribs and more in very cosy location. Female owned. Reservation recommended.
A 12 minute drive to Poeldijk. Gorgeous cozy bar, stylish restaurant and a relaxed terrace. Seafood, steak, pasta and frequent special events. Reservation recommended.
Hotel Restaurant Unicum Elzenhagen
100 Monsterseweg
A 12 minute drive to Poeldijk. Gorgeous cozy bar, stylish restaurant and a relaxed terrace. Seafood, steak, pasta and frequent special events. Reservation recommended.
A bit further, but worth the mention! If visiting Delft is on your itinerary, this brunch/lunch cafe is stunning with amazing meat and vegan dishes. Very gorgeous and "instaworthy" place with fantastic food, coffee, desserts and tea. One of my local favourites. I bring all my visiting friends here.
26 locals recommend
Kek - De koffiebar van Delft
27 Voldersgracht
26 locals recommend
A bit further, but worth the mention! If visiting Delft is on your itinerary, this brunch/lunch cafe is stunning with amazing meat and vegan dishes. Very gorgeous and "instaworthy" place with fantastic food, coffee, desserts and tea. One of my local favourites. I bring all my visiting friends here.

Sightseeing

This beach is about 15-20 min walk from my house passing canals, sheep and horses. This is a quieter beach with only 3 cafes which locals love for its more calm environment. From the parking lot (if you drive) it is a bit of a hill so please keep that in mind for older guest or those with mobility issues. "Strandtent De Pit" is one of the cafes here which has amazing stove oven pizzas, a rustic terrace and just overall laid back vibes for guests of all ages. Plenty of space for kids and a nice swingset. I highly recommend this cafe for an evening dinner or drink. It is a classic local gem. Elements and Pavilijoen are the 2 other cafes here, the latter offers free lounge beds with your order (even coffee) its very quiet here and I enjoy that with a good book. Elements is also great, a family favourite as well and it is pictured in my listing photos- but I love the Pit the best!
Vluchtenburg Beach
5 Slag Vlugtenburg
This beach is about 15-20 min walk from my house passing canals, sheep and horses. This is a quieter beach with only 3 cafes which locals love for its more calm environment. From the parking lot (if you drive) it is a bit of a hill so please keep that in mind for older guest or those with mobility issues. "Strandtent De Pit" is one of the cafes here which has amazing stove oven pizzas, a rustic terrace and just overall laid back vibes for guests of all ages. Plenty of space for kids and a nice swingset. I highly recommend this cafe for an evening dinner or drink. It is a classic local gem. Elements and Pavilijoen are the 2 other cafes here, the latter offers free lounge beds with your order (even coffee) its very quiet here and I enjoy that with a good book. Elements is also great, a family favourite as well and it is pictured in my listing photos- but I love the Pit the best!
Hoek Van Holland Strand is the main beach of the town. It is the most busy with about 25 cafes, bars and restaurants on site. There is free parking and plenty of sunbeds, play structures and toys for kids. Various food options, various restaurant styles and something for everyone. This beach has a serviced WC. Eat- Uluwatu Casa Verde Young Crowd- Villa on the Beach
Strandboulevard
Strandboulevard
Hoek Van Holland Strand is the main beach of the town. It is the most busy with about 25 cafes, bars and restaurants on site. There is free parking and plenty of sunbeds, play structures and toys for kids. Various food options, various restaurant styles and something for everyone. This beach has a serviced WC. Eat- Uluwatu Casa Verde Young Crowd- Villa on the Beach
This beach is a 15-20 minute from the house and it is another local favourite when people are looking for more of a less crowded beach day. I love the walk here, and if you opt to drive its less than 2 minutes and free parking. Highlights of this beach are very good priced SUP and surfboards, lessons and the calmness of only 2 cafes. One of them Pele Surf Shack is fully vegetarian/vegan and they make fantastic food. Great for guests of all kinds and a local favourite with kids.
Rechtestraat
Rechtestraat
This beach is a 15-20 minute from the house and it is another local favourite when people are looking for more of a less crowded beach day. I love the walk here, and if you opt to drive its less than 2 minutes and free parking. Highlights of this beach are very good priced SUP and surfboards, lessons and the calmness of only 2 cafes. One of them Pele Surf Shack is fully vegetarian/vegan and they make fantastic food. Great for guests of all kinds and a local favourite with kids.
KIDS Ages 5 and Up. Interactive park with miniature models depicting the Netherlands. I would say best for ages 5 and up, I brought my 8 year old cousin there and she was entertained for 4 hours.
306 locals recommend
Madurodam
1 George Maduroplein
306 locals recommend
KIDS Ages 5 and Up. Interactive park with miniature models depicting the Netherlands. I would say best for ages 5 and up, I brought my 8 year old cousin there and she was entertained for 4 hours.

City/town information

A picturesque canal town. Home of the world famous Delft Blue ceramics and the birthplace of Johannes Vermeer. Literally a tiny Amsterdam without the tourists. Stunning place to explore, pop in for shelter on a heated patio to hide from the rain. Ample squares full of both trendy and classic cafes and restaurants for meals, coffee, beer or late night drinks. (Make sure you find all the squares!) You can climb 367 stairs to the top of the gorgeous Nieuwe Kerk (the highest point in Delft). Great shopping in local concept stores...many with hidden cafes and bars within them. 15 minutes by car.
165 locals recommend
Delft
165 locals recommend
A picturesque canal town. Home of the world famous Delft Blue ceramics and the birthplace of Johannes Vermeer. Literally a tiny Amsterdam without the tourists. Stunning place to explore, pop in for shelter on a heated patio to hide from the rain. Ample squares full of both trendy and classic cafes and restaurants for meals, coffee, beer or late night drinks. (Make sure you find all the squares!) You can climb 367 stairs to the top of the gorgeous Nieuwe Kerk (the highest point in Delft). Great shopping in local concept stores...many with hidden cafes and bars within them. 15 minutes by car.
One of the most charming cities in NL! The town centre is quite compact compared to Amsterdam and Rotterdam meaning you can see alot on foot in a day. I love the amount of trees that line the canals in this city, another unique and special feature. A great place to rent a "whisper boat" for the day. I brought my family here and it was their favourite day on the visit. Other Utrecht ideas: The Dom Tower, Miffy Museum, Netherlands Film Festival (Sept/Oct), De Haar Castle, DOMunder andddd Oudegracht- a part of the city has canals that run under it, along side the canals are warehouses that line the waterway that are today cafes, homes and stores. This is unique to Utrecht and very cool to see!
243 locals recommend
Utrecht
243 locals recommend
One of the most charming cities in NL! The town centre is quite compact compared to Amsterdam and Rotterdam meaning you can see alot on foot in a day. I love the amount of trees that line the canals in this city, another unique and special feature. A great place to rent a "whisper boat" for the day. I brought my family here and it was their favourite day on the visit. Other Utrecht ideas: The Dom Tower, Miffy Museum, Netherlands Film Festival (Sept/Oct), De Haar Castle, DOMunder andddd Oudegracht- a part of the city has canals that run under it, along side the canals are warehouses that line the waterway that are today cafes, homes and stores. This is unique to Utrecht and very cool to see!
Pick up bikes here and explore Noord Holland. The city itself is full of canals, markets and has a great sunny square. 20 km to Amsterdam and it borders a national park that extends to the sea. If you havent seen enough water, you can also head up to Zandvoort (the beach there). Shopping? Gouden Straatjes has been named one of the best places to shop in all of the Netherlands on several occasions (boutiques, vintage, concept stores). There are 21 hidden gardens concealed in bars, cafes and behind houses….can you find some of them?
372 locals recommend
Haarlem
372 locals recommend
Pick up bikes here and explore Noord Holland. The city itself is full of canals, markets and has a great sunny square. 20 km to Amsterdam and it borders a national park that extends to the sea. If you havent seen enough water, you can also head up to Zandvoort (the beach there). Shopping? Gouden Straatjes has been named one of the best places to shop in all of the Netherlands on several occasions (boutiques, vintage, concept stores). There are 21 hidden gardens concealed in bars, cafes and behind houses….can you find some of them?

Traveler advice

Traveling with kids

Beach & Village Activities with Young Children

1. Pluk! (Den Haag) is my favourite farm cafe. There are lots of animals (big to small), lots of shade and sunny sitting areas, nice property to walk around and a cafe for lunch or tea. My nephew is 3 now and we have been going since he was 1 and he loves it. 2. Staelduinse Bos- Nice forest walk about 5mn by car. Great for stroller or curious kids. Can eat at "Bosrand" where there is nice garden and place for kids to run outside. 3. Marktplein 45 (S'Gravenzande) A nice park in the square we bring my nephew to. A small playground near a place called "Parel".
Traveling with kids

Beach Free Activities with Young Children

4. Nature trail to a kids park: Park your car on corner of Hoflaan & Poelmolenwag (SGravenzande) nice place to walk with kids (or without) 10 min on paved trail through wild flowers and beside canals and a small lake. Lots of ducks, frogs, birds. Trail continues for several km also. (Natuurspeeltuin 'S-Gravenzande on Google Maps) 4. Ballorig (SGravenzande) IF ITS RAINING, this is a greaaaaat indoor play place for kids! All padded and soft floor, lots of places to crawl, climb and explore. 5. On my street: Both ends of the street (Left and right) have small play structures.