The dune reserves to the west are easily accessible from Alkmaar by bicycle. You can also walk from Bergen, the largest of the villages alongside the dunes. It was known as an 'artists village' since around 1900, is now primarily an upper-income suburb of Alkmaar, with two museums and an art centre. Bergen has a good bus service from Alkmaar bus 160, every 15 minutes. A few kilometres further north are the villages of Schoorl and Groet, also at the edge of the dunes. They are served by bus 151 from Alkmaar, every 30 minutes.
West of Schoorl, the 'Schoorlse Duinen' are a dune nature reserve open to the public, (http://www.staatsbosbehee...) run by the official forest agency Staatsbosbeheer. The forest was originally planted in the 19th century - not for tourists, but to prevent the dunes burying the villages. The reserve covers 1900 hectares, accessible on foot and by bike at several points. There is also a visitors centre, Bezoekerscentrum Het Zandspoor, Oorsprongweg 1, 1871 HA Schoorl, with a 'play forest' for children. Access to this reserve is free. However, the dunes and forest nearest Bergen are controlled by the Provincial Water Company PWN, the reserve is called the 'Noordhollands Duinreservaat'. Here you need a day ticket, ⬠1,20 from machines at the main entrances. The PWN reserve is cut by the road to Bergen aan Zee: the Schoorlse Duinen reserve is wilder and more forested.
There are three villages called Egmond. The oldest is Inner or Inland Egmond, Egmond-Binnen, the site of the Abbey of Egmond, the oldest in the Netherlands. The present abbey is a modern re-foundation, only its location is authentic. The original abbey was founded around 950 by Dirk I, the first perhaps second Count of Holland. It was originally a nunnery: Count Dirk II replaced the nuns by monks. The abbey became a cultural and religious centre for the County of Holland, in the early Middle Ages. The fishing village of Egmond aan Zee was founded in 977, and was later controlled by the abbey. The Catholic abbey was destroyed during the Protestant Dutch Revolt, by the troops of Diederik Sonoy. The ruins survived until about 1800.
The present Benedictine abbey (http://www.abdijvanegmond...) was built in the mid-1930's, another religious building partly designed by the traditionalist architect Kropholler. (http://www.archimon.nl/ar...) It is named after Saint Adelbert, an early missionary to the region.
Monasteries typically derive income from craft work by the monks. In this case, the abbey makes candles: it is the only maker of religious candles in the country. There is a candle shop - Abdijkaarsen, Vennewatersweg 27, 1935 AR Egmond-Binnen. Tel: 072-506 2786, fax: 072-506 6254, e-mail : [email protected]. Open Monday 13:00-16:30, Tuesday to Friday 10:30-16:30, Saturday 10:30-16:00. (http://www.abdijkaarsen.n...)
The village of Egmond aan den Hoef Egmond-at-the Manor, grew around the manor of the local nobles. Later a substantial castle was built: it was destroyed three times, the last time in 1573, also by Diederik Sonoy. The surviving ruins were demolished in the early 19th century, but the castle foundations and moat were re-excavated in the 1930's, and are now visible in a park. The castle chapel Slotkapel, originally 1229 survives.
The two inland Egmonds lie amid the bulb fields at the edge of the dunes. The strip with bulb farms extends to Castricum and Heemskerk. The season is from late March to late May.
Egmond aan den Hoef is served by bus 165 from Alkmaar station, every 30 minutes. Egmond-Binnen has an irregular bus service, but is within walking distance of Egmond aan den Hoef. It also has a limited bus service to Heiloo station, every 90 minutes, six trips per day. By far the easiest way to see all three villages is to cycle.
