Discover Hoek van Holland

Hoek van Holland can also be called Rotterdam Beach. The village has a cozy center, where you can enjoy shopping. A short walk reveals many cultural surprises such as Museum Rockart, the old tall red lighthouse with the het Kustverlichtingsmuseum inside, and the residential block designed by the famous architect J.J.P. Oud.

History

Hoek van Holland has a turbulent history. At the end of the 19th century, the village began to grow with the construction of the Nieuwe Waterweg. At that time, the Fort was also built to protect the mouth of the Maas. 'De Hoek' was annexed by Rotterdam in 1914 and developed as a seaside resort. During World War II, Hoek van Holland suffered greatly, as the bombing of Rotterdam also affected the village, and the 'Old Hoek' was demolished to make way for the bunkers of the Atlantikwall.

Boulevard

The Zeekant with its cozy beach pavilions attracts many visitors to Hoek van Holland. At the Koningin Emmaboulevard, you can enjoy the wide view of the Nieuwe Waterweg. The restaurants along the boulevard and de Zeekant serve delicious fresh fish. In addition, there are plenty of free parkingspots, including for campers.

The Noorderpier

At the end of the Koningin Emmaboulevard lies the Noorderpier. Almost half of this 4.5-kilometer-long pier was accessible to walkers and fishermen, but is now closed halfway due to safety reasons. At the beginning, you can still see remnants of the defense line, the Atlantikwall.

With the ferry to Portlantis

The Hoeksveer is a bicycle and pedestrian ferry connecting Hoek van Holland (Berghaven, junction 94) and Maasvlakte 2 (former FutureLand, junction 57). During the 50-minute crossing, you'll sail through Europe's largest port, passing impressive ships and sometimes even spotting seals. From the former FutureLand, a shuttle bus takes you to the nearby Portlantis, the new port experience centre offering stunning views over the harbour, North Sea beach (Maasvlaktestrand) and Voorne-Putten. Please note: The Hoeksveer will resume service in April 2026.

Hoek van Holland has a lovely large beach and beautiful dune area. You can relax sunbathing and or take a stroll along the boulevard. For those who enjoy the fresh sea breeze, it’s always ‘beach weather,’ even on windy days!

The ‘Large’ Beach

This part is the area near the Badweg and the Zeekant. Most of the beach pavilions are here and most of the beach events also take place in this area. Many facilities are available: showers, (disabled) toilets, parking places, beach wheelchairs, a first aid station, lifeguards, children’s play areas and bicycle parking. There are also shops and other facilities on the Zeeplein square at the end of the Badweg.

Watersports

The coast in Hoek van Holland is a beloved spot for water sports enthusiasts. You can surf, kite, paddleboard, and sail here. The 'Hoekse' beach at Rechtestraat is the designated place to be. Several (kite) surfing schools are located here, such as Surfschool Hoek van Holland and Kitesurfschool, as well as the Windsurfing Association and De Surfschool, which will help you learn or improve your skills. Moreover, you will find the central post of the lifeguard, and there are convenient facilities such as showers, toilets and a bicycle shed for visitors.

The Northern Beach

For those seeking peace and quiet, this is a wonderful stretch of beach. It stretches from Slag Stuifkenszand to Slag Vlugtenburg near 's Gravenzande. Between beach poles 116 and 117 is the naturist beach.

Live view?

Curious about the (surfing) weather on the beach? Watch live images of the beach, sea and harbour via the webcams in Hoek van Holland and see what's going on.