Bergen aan Zee is the coastal counterpart to Bergen proper — a low-key beach resort a few kilometres west, reached by bus or bicycle through the dunes. The North Sea beach here is wide and sandy, with serious surf when the wind is up. In summer, the usual Dutch beach infrastructure appears: strandtenten (beach pavilions) selling fish and beer, sunbathers, and children building elaborate sandcastles.
Out of season, Bergen aan Zee is quieter and more appealing — the dunes behind the beach are part of a nature reserve, with good walking tracks through marram grass and sea buckthorn. The village itself is small with a few restaurants and some holiday houses. The Dutch return here year after year for nostalgia and sea air; for international visitors, it's a pleasant afternoon from Bergen.