Brrrr Bloemendaal!

Bloemendaal

On the weekend we drove out to the coast to visit Bloemendaal Beach. While we love to visit in the summertime, we thought it would be equally as fun in the winter and a nice place for a walk. The drive from Hilversum to Bloemendaal took about 45 minutes. The town of Bloemendaal was gorgeous, with old stately homes in a variety of architectural styles. As we got closer to the coast, we were met with the rolling dunes covered in pale blond grasses. We vowed to come back in the summer and take long bike rides through them.

After entering a car-park, we wound our way through the dunes and to the lot. The parking lot was full of hatch-back VWs, Peugeots, Fiats, and BMWs (all very typical in Holland). We were genuinely surprised at the amount of people who had ventured out to the coast on such a cold and rainy afternoon. It was freezing cold, and after passing over the last dune we were met with temperatures even ten degrees cooler. The wind was whipping against the North Sea, and the whole scene seemed muted, foggy, and serene. We made our way down the steep sandy path to join the families strolling along the beach, walking their dogs and kicking around the soccer ball. After picking up some sea shells and walking away from the wind, we decided to turn back and visit one of the restaurants over-looking the sea. We drank some warm tea and Chocomel, before jumping back into the car, thankful to be out of the cold. Our drive continued down the coast to Zandvoort, and then down further until the road ended.

Typically Dutch

Driving through Breukelen

We made a detour to see the town of Breukelen, where the Nyenrode Business Universiteit is located. The drive into Breukelen was gorgeous, filled with farmland and quaint townships. I love the entire area along the Vecht, with the huge manor homes and stately gardens it is easily one of the more affluent areas in the Netherlands. Back through Loosdrecht and we were home. A nice rainy day drive to explore more of our new European home :)

Dutch farms