NORTH HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS
Rooms from about £107
While the crowds mostly head to Zandvoort or Bergen, lo-fi Castricum aan Zee still flies slightly under the radar on the Dutch coast, with just a handful of beach clubs and a couple of tiny summer houses. The real draw is that the land here gives way to Noordhollands Duinreservaat, one of the country’s biggest nature reserves, beloved by hikers, cyclists and horse riders. Strandhotel Zoomers is huddled among the dunes right on the path that leads to the ocean where families from Amsterdam carry their cool boxes, foldable beach chairs and young children in a typical bolderkar (beach wagon) to a sunny spot near the water.
The owners were already running hit beach bar and restaurant Strandpaviljoen Zoomers, so adding somewhere to stay was a natural extension. They collaborated with homegrown design brand HKliving on interiors including rattan chairs and woven lamps. Yet it’s not just the styling that takes its cues from the environment – the latter is part of the whole ethos: the property is heated by a pellet stove and powered by energy generated via 280 solar panels. There are just 12 rooms and no reception or restaurant – though Strandpaviljoen is a short stroll away – instead, guests tap in a code to access rooms and there is a delivery service for breakfast and supper. And when the sunseeking day trippers return home, the sky turns a peaceful pink above the almost-empty shore.