There is plenty to do and experience at Uitgeestermeer and in the surrounding area, also with children. From supping, canoeing and sailing on the lake to a visit to the Zaanse Schans. We would like to give you some tips. During the summer months, we have put together an exciting and active programme to make your stay at Holiday Park de Hoop even more fun.

By car, you drive from Erfgoedpark De Hoop to Castricum aan Zee beach within 15 minutes. You can park here in the large paid car park and there are also some charging points for electric cars. The beach is also easy to reach by bike, you cycle there in about 35 minutes. You can also cycle to Castricum's ‘quiet beach’, where you can enjoy the beach and nature in peace and quiet.
Besides having the widest beach in the Netherlands, Wijk aan Zee is also known as one of the better surfing spots in the North Sea. You drive there in about 20 minutes and you can park for free outside the centre area of Wijk aan Zee. By bike, you can reach the beach in about 45 minutes.
Egmond aan Zee is also well worth a visit. You can get there by car in 25 minutes, and by bike it takes about 50 minutes. In the months of March to October, parking in Egmond aan Zee is charged. Besides a fine beach, Egmond aan Zee also has a cosy village centre with many restaurants and nice shop.

At Holiday park De Hoop, children can play happily: there are several playgrounds on the park and older kids can play volleyball or football on the large lawn. The swimming lake near the park is a nice place on warmer days.
Playground De Veilige Haven is a simple playground with adventurous play equipment where children can have a great time.
Bad weather? On a rainy day, take the kids to Monkeytown in Uitgeest, a large indoor play paradise. Parents enjoy good Wi-Fi and delicious coffee.
Streetjump Alkmaar is the coolest indoor trampoline park in the Netherlands. After an hour of jumping, children are guaranteed to lose a lot of energy.
With the whole family, book a bowling alley at Bobs in Uitgeest, just an 8-minute drive from Erfgoedpark De Hoop.

The surroundings of Holiday Park De Hoop are a favourite spot for hiking enthusiasts. Take a nice walk along the Uitgeestermeer or explore the meadows, forests, dunes and along the beach. In Heemskerk, a nearby village near Uitgeest, walk through the Noord-Hollands Dune Reserve and the protected bird area where you can spot various meadow birds.

In Huis van Hilde, the archaeology museum of North Holland, you will learn about the history of North Holland and see the most beautiful finds from the region.
Spend an afternoon in the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar and learn how to look at art with the kids using creative assignments.
In the Zuiderzee Museum, you will experience everything from the past and present of the IJsselmeer region; play old-Dutch games, listen to stories from the past and climb on the fishing ship.
Teylers Museum in Haarlem is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, focusing on science and art. There are fun scavenger hunts for children to do and an Art and Flying workshop every Sunday.
The Pieter Vermeulen Museum is a small-scale museum, ideal for younger children from 3 years old. They will learn all about nature, the environment and sustainability here.The luchtoorlog museum Fort Veldhuis tells the story of the air war in the Netherlands during World War II, where many aircraft crashed during their mission. At Fort Veldhuis, the parts of the planes are beautifully displayed. You get a good picture of an important period in history.

Crazy about alpacas? At the Alpaca-ecofarm, you can pet and feed alpacas or even take a walk with your own alpaca.
Visit the Sea Aquarium in Bergen aan Zee and learn all about the underwater world. You will find the most beautiful fish, sea creatures and shells and even two seals in the outdoor enclosure.
Giraffes, zebras and lots of different monkeys; in Van Blanckendaell Park you will spot special animals from all continents. The animal park is spacious so it is never too crowded. For younger children there is a fun playground and museum train.

Go boating on the Uitgeest Lake and enjoy a fantastic day on the water with the kids. Bring a well-stocked picnic basket and moor at Pancake Island or one of the other beautiful spots around the lake.
In the warm summer months, the park's swimming lake is a safe place to play quietly in the water.
Want to cool off in the pool? In the vicinity you will find various swimming pools such as De Hoornse Vaart in Alkmaar, Het Baafje in Heiloo (outdoor only) or Zwembad de Heerenduinen in IJmuiden.
The beach is not far away either. Relax by the sea in Castricum and Egmond aan Zee or go surfing with the kids in popular Wijk aan Zee.
You can also book sailing lessons and surfing lessons on the lake nearby; special weekend and holiday courses are organised for children. Stand Up Paddling, also known as ‘supping’, has become a popular water sport in recent years. With a SUP board, you can paddle standing up on a board, get active and explore the surroundings of the Uitgeestermeer lake in a pleasant way. Grab a canoe too, explore beautiful routes and be surprised by the picturesque villages in the area. SUP boards and canoes are available free of charge at the park. Wijk aan Zee is one of the most famous and popular surfing and kite surfing spots. Here you will find the widest beach in the Netherlands, giving you plenty of space to practice safely. Adjacent to Heritage Park De Hoop you will find the (public) Zwaansmeer. Here it is lovely to relax by the water on a sunny day. The lawn and the shallow water make this a great play and picnic spot for families with (young) children.

Had enough of the peace and quiet and in for some more action?
Alkmaar offers great shopping, coffee at one of the many outdoor cafés, interesting museums and excellent restaurants. From late March, you can also visit the famous Cheese Market, where cheese has been traded since 1365.
Cities such as Haarlem, Zaandam and Amsterdam are easy to visit; both by car and by train. Uitgeest has its own train station, just a few minutes from holiday park De Hoop.