Christmas and New Year by the sea at Camperduinen
The Dutch Christmas school holidays run this year from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Two weeks to unwind, spend time together and close the year in peace. At Camperduinen you do that 600 metres from the sea, on the edge of the Schoorl Dunes.
By day you blow away the cobwebs on the wide beach of Camperduin or walk through the dunes. In the evening you cook your own Christmas dinner and curl up on the sofa. And in between there is plenty to do: a full moon walk through the dunes, carol singing in Alkmaar and, on New Year's Day, a dip in the North Sea at Egmond.
Christmas at your own table
No booking a table, no crowded restaurant. Every apartment has a full kitchen with induction hob, oven and dishwasher, so you simply cook Christmas dinner yourself. You can do your shopping in Schoorl, three kilometres away.
Choose the apartment that suits your group:
- Duinroos: 3 people, cosy for two or a small family.
- Duindroom and Duingeluk: 4 people.
- Duinbries: up to 6 people, with three bedrooms. Ideal for Christmas with family or friends.
Coming with two families? Book two apartments in the same building. That way you celebrate Christmas together and everyone still has a place of their own.
Our first guests went before you
Our very first guests wrote:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The apartment is light, stylish and pleasantly and practically furnished, with plenty of room for a larger family. Recently renovated! Terrace right outside the door, on the edge of the village. An ideal landscape for dog owners. A great stay."
Guests in the Duingeluk apartment, summer 2026
Winter outings in the Christmas holidays
There is plenty going on around Camperduinen over the holidays. A selection:
- Kerstmannenrun Schoorl: hundreds of runners dressed as Santa race around the Klimduin. Traditionally on the Saturday before Christmas.
- Full moon walk, Wednesday 23 December: an evening walk through the Schoorl Dunes with Staatsbosbeheer guides, starting at the visitor centre (Buitencentrum). Booking required.
- Skating at De Meent in Alkmaar: during the Christmas holidays the ice rink is open almost every day, with family skating on the Alkmaars IJsplein.
- Volkskerstzang, Wednesday 30 December: sing Christmas carols together in the Grote Kerk in Alkmaar, from 7 pm to 8.15 pm. Free entry.
- Winter fair in Egmond aan Zee: after Christmas you can stroll past the stalls in the village.
And of course the classic: a long beach walk on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, followed by hot chocolate in Schoorl.
Looking for the Christmas markets in Bergen, Schoorl and Alkmaar? They usually take place in mid-December, just before the holidays. Read all about them on our Christmas markets page.
Dates and times may change, so always check the organiser's website.
Christmas markets in Alkmaar, Bergen and Schoorl
Fancy mulled wine, twinkling lights and market stalls? There are some lovely Christmas markets around Camperduinen, all within half an hour.
- Schoorl Christmas market: at Bospaviljoen de Berenkuil on the Schoorlsezeeweg, 3 kilometres away. With fire baskets, marshmallows by the fire and a visit from Father Christmas.
- Bergen Christmas market: around the Ruïnekerk, with some fifty stalls and live music. 10 kilometres away, a quarter of an hour by car.
- Alkmaar Christmas market: Prachtkerst in the town centre, with fire baskets, mulled wine, poffertjes and carol singing. About 25 minutes by car.
- Egmond: the Winter Fair at Nieuw Westert in Egmond-Binnen. After Christmas there is the winter fair in Egmond aan Zee.
In 2025 the markets in Bergen and Schoorl were held on the same Sunday, 14 December, just before the Christmas holidays. The dates for 2026 have not been announced yet. Coming for a weekend in mid-December? Visit Schoorl in the morning and Bergen in the afternoon, then finish with a winter walk by the sea.
New Year's Eve: a quiet end to the year
This is the first New Year's Eve with a nationwide ban on consumer fireworks in the Netherlands. Only small fireworks such as sparklers are still allowed. The municipality of Bergen, which includes Camperduin, is also not granting any exemptions to clubs or foundations. So you can expect a much quieter New Year's Eve than you may be used to.
Good news if you are bringing your dog. Your dog is welcome at Camperduinen (one per apartment at most) and can enjoy a relaxed walk on the beach or through the dunes on 31 December. In the evening it stays close by, with your own fenced terrace right outside the door.
Pick up oliebollen, the Dutch New Year's doughnuts, in Schoorl and chill the bubbly in your own fridge. At midnight you toast the new year together, with the sound of the sea just 600 metres away.
A fresh start to the new year
On New Year's Day it is about a 22-minute drive to Egmond aan Zee for the New Year's Dip (Nieuwjaarsduik). At around 2 pm more than two thousand people run into the North Sea, followed by pea soup or hot chocolate. You can sign up on the spot from 12 noon. Please note: the dip only goes ahead if the weather allows. In 2025 and 2026 it was cancelled because of strong winds.
Rather stay dry? A brisk New Year's walk along the beach at Camperduin or up the Klimduin in Schoorl is a great way to start 2027 too.
The weekend after the Christmas holidays is all about sport in Egmond. On Saturday 9 January mountain bikers ride the Egmond-Pier-Egmond, and on Sunday 10 January thousands of runners take on the Egmond Half Marathon.
Choose your apartment for the Christmas holidays
Practical information
- Arrival from 3 pm, departure before 10 am. You check in yourself with a key code, so arriving on a public holiday is no problem.
- The price is all-in, including final cleaning and wifi.
- You can add a linen package for €20 per person. Your beds will then be made up when you arrive.
- Schoorl is 3 kilometres away (8 minutes by bike), Bergen 10 kilometres and Alkmaar about 25 minutes by car.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Dutch Christmas holidays 2026-2027?
From Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, throughout the Netherlands.
Can I book just the Christmas days or just New Year's Eve?
Yes, you choose your own arrival and departure dates. The search bar at the top shows straight away which apartments are still available.
Are fireworks allowed around Camperduin?
No. From this New Year's Eve onwards there is a nationwide ban on consumer fireworks in the Netherlands. Only small fireworks such as sparklers are allowed. Buying and possessing heavier fireworks is also banned, so do not bring any from abroad.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, your dog is welcome, one per apartment at most. This applies to all four apartments.
Will the New Year's Dip in Egmond go ahead?
It is planned again for 1 January 2027. In strong winds or high waves the organisers may cancel it, so check the Nieuwjaarsduik Egmond website on the day itself.
Christmas and New Year by the sea
Book an apartment at Camperduinen and enjoy the beach, the dunes and a cosy festive season. There are only four apartments, so the earlier you book, the more choice you have.
