Bloemendaal, Amsterdam

Bloemendaal (pronounced Bloomin-dahl) is a large municipality in North Holland and the wealthiest area in all The Netherlands. Although it encapsulates several glitzy districts and villages, including Bennebroek, Aerdenhout, and Vogelenzang, most visitors come to visit Bloemendaal aan Zee, the seaside resort that borders the country’s trendiest beaches.

Although a more bohemian set tends to frequent neighboring Zandvoort, this little village swarms with a young beautiful crowd on any sunny day, with the biggest throngs showing up July–August to attend DJ festivals that attract Ibiza-level partiers – and a whole mess of traffic congestion – to set up near the crystal blue waters and pack the several bars, clubs, restaurants, and cafés steps from the sand.

The larger expanse of Bloemendaal is also worth exploring, and one can easily fill the day just strolling through the beautiful gardens in South-Kennemerland, catching an HC Bloemendaal field hockey match, or wandering the neighboring woods, dunes, and endless estates.

Because of its popularity, driving a car here probably should be avoided. But visitors can easily take the train from Amsterdam to Haarlem and then snag a bus that lets out right at the beach.