IJmuiden Travel Guide

IJmuiden is north of a big national park and east of a beautiful beach and close to both Haarlem and Amsterdam! 

IJmuiden is ideally located near the beach, a big nature reserve and two big cities. Go for a walk in the morning, enjoy the sun and the beach in the afternoon and head to Haarlem for a night on the town!

IJmuiden is a pretty young town that was developed at the end of the 19^th century after the North Sea Canal was completed. The city owes its name to a journalist who spoke of 'IJ-muiden', meaning the mouth of the IJ River. Considering that that’s where the city is located, it’s a very suitable name indeed!

Everything in IJmuiden revolves around the coast and water. Admire IJmuiden's tall, red lighthouse built in 1878. You can't climb it but it’s well worth taking a look at. Combine your visit with a walk on the beach or a refreshing dip in the sea if the weather is good.

Another one of IJmuiden's attractions is its proximity to National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, which you can walk to from the city centre! Enjoy the wild deer, the dunes and the beach. You can also go on a long horse ride with your partner or the whole family!

There are also plenty of cultural activities in and around IJmuiden. Visit the exhibition at the IJmuider Zee- en Havenmuseum, for example, or take a look around the impressive Bunker Museum IJmuiden. Haarlem and Amsterdam are close by, so you could go shopping in Kalverstraat or do a pub crawl on Haarlem's market square!

IJmuiden is not a big city, making it easy to explore on foot. There are a number of boat tours that you can do in the spring and autumn around the ports and through the North Sea Canal. There are also plenty of walking and bicycle routes in the surrounding nature reserve.

IJmuiden is on the coast, near the A9, making it easy to reach by car. If you’re travelling around the Netherlands by public transport, you can catch a train or a bus to IJmuiden from cities such as Haarlem.

Relax in IJmuiden. Enjoy the nature, the beach and the proximity to great cities. What more could you ask for?