The ‘Zeeland Riviera’ that only locals visit has huge beaches and the most sunshine hours
A HUGE stretch of coastline in Europe is often overlooked as a holiday destination by Brits – despite being loved by locals.
Dubbed the Zeeland Riviera, the three seaside towns are found in the South of the Netherlands.
Being so far south, this also means is has some of the warmest climates of country, as well as the most sunshine hours.
The main Zoutelande Beach is around three miles long so you won’t experience huge crowds either.
Expect to see paragliders taking advantage of the sand dunes, which are as high as 45 metres.
Otherwise dune hiking and cycling is also popular with tourists, who visit some of the now abandoned bunkers as attractions as well, from World War II.
There is also the popular beach pavilion right on the beach which serves both snacks and booze.
One tourist said it was the “perfect place for having a sundowner”.
Otherwise the riviera is made up of three towns – Zouteland, Domburg and Westkapelle.
Domburg is one of the oldest seaside resorts in the Netherlands.
Home to some of the restaurants and bars near the beach, it is also known for being a spa town so expect huge hotels as well.
Westkapelle is also a quiet seaside town, with attractions such as lighthouses to visit.
The best way to get to the coastline is to drive from Antwerp in Belgium, which takes around 1hr20.
Otherwise Rotterdam is around 1hr35 away.
Flights to both airports take around one hour, with Ryanair and easyJet offering the cheapest flights.
Just make sure to check opening times of the resorts – high season is from June to August, with most things shut from November to February.
But shoulder season still remains warm, so visiting in April or October means you can grab cheaper hotels and have fewer crowds.
The Sun’s Alastair Moir explored other parts of the quiet Dutch coastlines.
Visiting Landal Strand Resort on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee, he said: “A collection of villas dotted among the sand dunes along the water’s edge, think 18km of vast beaches, lots of nature to soak up and absolutely zero stress.
“Make sure to visit the nearby fishing village of Stellendam.
“20 minutes’ drive away, its home to seal sanctuary A Seal Zeehondenopvang en Expo, which gets you up close to the beautiful mammals.”
Here is another island in the Netherlands which is known for its beer.