Bloemendaal aan Zee

Bloemendaal, The Netherlands –

When people think of the great beach towns of the world, Amsterdam probably doesn’t pop into their minds – but time spent at Bloemendaal aan Zee just might change that.

Rolling dunes covered in lush vegetation lead to a miles-long stretch of sandy beach popular for surfing and volleyball.

Given its reputation for surfside sports, Bloemendaal attracts a more energetic and mixed crowd of young locals than does the neighboring Zandvoort, which caters to a laid-back group of beach bums, German tourists, and city dwellers not into the club scene.

After playing in the waves all day at Bloemendaal, beachgoers enjoy an incredible sunset before setting off to explore the ultra-hip beach clubs that line the strip. Most of the clubs are terrace cafés and restaurants by day that roll up the carpets and turn up the flashing lights and ground-shaking sound systems at night.

The most popular of these venues are Bloomingdale and Vroeger, upscale beach clubs with door policies that require some sexy attire and attitude from their patrons. The well-dressed clientele obliges as they lounge around and sip cocktails before heating up the vibe and hitting the dance floor later on when the DJs take over.

For days of fun in the sun that morph into high-energy nights, it’s hard to beat Bloemendaal.