Fancy a day of sun, sea and beach with a green touch? Then Bloemendaal aan Zee is the place for you! Because yes, when you do have your feet in the sand, you also want to feel good about your coffee, lunch or drinks board. Luckily, the menus here are bursting with vegetarian, vegan and organic options. So enjoy delicious and conscious. Fleur shares her favourite sustainable hang-outs - Put them on your greener list already!
Sustainable beach tents in Bloemendaal
Not only the beach tents in this list, but also the Bloemendaal municipality is doing something nice and green. During your day at the beach, for instance, you can park and recharge your car under a solar carport with no less than eight thousand solar panels. And although you won't get there directly by train, Bloemendaal aan Zee is easily accessible by bike (a lovely 25-minute ride from Haarlem) or by bus from Haarlem train station. The most famous part of the beach has (roughly) seven beach bars right next to each other - relaxed during the day and often a party at night. Perfect for combining a beach day with a drink at sunset. And yes, there are plenty of beach bars on this popular stretch of beach that think and act sustainably. We list them for you below.
San Blas: sustainable with a South American sauce
If there is one beach resort where sustainability is not an empty promise, it is San Blas well. This pavilion with a roof full of solar panels is perhaps the most sustainable in Bloemendaal aan Zee. During construction, considerable attention was paid to recycling: recycled materials were used and you are in a well-insulated wooden building - ready for cold winters and sunny summer days. And then that interior! Modern on the outside, nicely retro on the inside with reused doors and vintage vibes. Things are also going well on the plate here. Think honestly produced dishes with plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices. The menu is inspired by South American cuisine - not surprising, since San Blas is named after the SanBlass islands off the coast of Panama. Imagine yourself in South America for a moment with the sun on your head, a cocktail in your hand and enchiladas on your plate.
Zeeweg 86, Overveen
Parnassia aan Zee: for those seeking peace and nature
Taking a break from the hustle and bustle? Then Parnassia aan Zee your place. This beach pavilion - a household name in the region since 1958 - is just a little further north than Bloemendaal's well-known row of beach bars. And you feel it immediately: the beach is quieter, the vibe is more relaxed and you are right here in the middle of the Kennemer dunes. Ideal for combining your beach day with a nice walk. Parnassia is open all year round. In winter, warm up by the fireplace after a refreshing walk on the beach. In summer, sit out on the terrace, feet in the sand and a cool drink within reach. The menu is also well catered for: Parnassia cooks with seasonal ingredients, as much organic and local as possible. A sustainable choice that also tastes good - that's how we like it.
Parnassiaweg 1, Overveen
Bronze Beach: a circular beach club
Those at Bronze Beach down, is literally in a circular beach pavilion. This is because it was built with materials from an old school building. Even the interior is largely recycled - from the chairs to the lamps. The abundance of wood used inside and outside creates a warm, natural atmosphere that perfectly matches the sea and dunes around you. On the menu, you'll find a bit of everything: meat and fish, but also plenty of vegetarian dishes to make you happy. Little ones are thought of too, so there's no need to smuggle in your own sandwiches. And an added bonus: the terrace is virtually plastic-free. So help yourself, just while you're on your smoothie sits slurping, to keep the beach and sea clean. Win-win, right?
Zeeweg 86B, Overveen
Bronze Beach, a sustainable beach pavilion in Bloemendaal aan Zee with circular ambitions of course totally belongs on this greener list!
Stranded: dune views, playground and an oyster burger
OK, not officially a beach club, but Stranded definitely deserves a spot on this list. This wooden hotspot is located in the dunes near Bloemendaal, next to Camping de Lakens. The huge playground in the sand makes it feel like a beach club - one where children can play endlessly while you relax on the terrace overlooking the dune tops. Bonus: you're just a bit more sheltered here if it's too windy by the sea. Gestrand is open for breakfast, lunch, drinks and dinner - and yes, you can find fine vegetarian and vegan choices here too. The oyster burger comes highly recommended (seriously, try it!). And if you like wine, this is the place to be: they work with Mirabueno, a winery that makes organic wines. And you can taste that. So: feet in the sand, glass in hand, view of the dunes... and enjoy. P.S. Gestrand is not open all year, so check before you go.
Zeeweg 60, Overveen
Het Duincafé: chilling out in the dunes with Green Key Gold
Strictly speaking, this is not a beach bar either, but it is a lovely place in the dunes, which is why we like to tip it to you. At The Dune Café, right next to the visitor centre of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, you're soon out of the wind on the terrace - perfect for a coffee stop or lunch after a walk in the dunes. Inside it is cosy with lots of wood, outside you look out over nature. The Duincafé carries the Green Key Gold label. This is the international sustainability label for catering businesses that make every effort to be environmentally friendly - from energy consumption to cleaning products. Only businesses that are serious about sustainability are allowed to carry this label. And that makes this place especially noteworthy.
Zeeweg 12, Overveen
Ron Gastrobar Bij de C: fine dining in the dunes
We stay in the dunes for a while, because right behind Bloemendaal beach you will also find At the C. This stylish spot from renowned chef Ron Blaauw is located in the middle of the greenery and is perfect for a sunny lunch or an atmospheric dinner - inside or outside, depending on the weather. On the menu? Meat, fish and a ‘Green’ section full of vegetable dishes that will make you happy - which is exactly why we recommend this place. All dishes are easy to share, surprising and just a bit fancier than your standard beach snack. Cycling towards the sea and want to treat yourself? Then this is your stop.
Hoge Duin en Daalseweg 6, Bloemendaal
Not on the beach, but a lovely restaurant in the dunes with plenty of vegetarian options: Ron Gastrobar, At the C. Ron Blaauw's restaurant in Bloemendaal. Photo: Maison Rowena (dining).
Beach Inn: Green Key Gold on the coast of IJmuiden
A little cheating is allowed, right? Beach Inn may be located just outside Bloemendaal, in IJmuiden aan Zee, but it deserves a spot on this list by a mile. In fact, this beach club was named the most sustainable beach club in the Netherlands in 2022. Located in the beautiful Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, it is a peaceful, natural place for a day out - and open all year round. At Beach Inn, everything runs on electricity, generated by their own solar panels. Gas? They don't use any. The pavilion itself is built of used wood and the interior also breathes recycling, but with style. On the large terrace you can smell the salty sea air, inside you sit cosy and tasteful. The menu is deliciously diverse: have a drink with truffle fries, or choose the avocado burger as an evening snack. And yes, they proudly carry the Green Key Gold label - proof that they are serious about sustainability, in no fewer than twelve themes. In short: this place is definitely worth a detour by bike.
Mantelmeeuwpad 2, IJmuiden
Woodstock 69: vegan vibes with sand between your toes
Woodstock 69 is the place for those who love a relaxed atmosphere, good music and tasty bites. The shared dining snacks score high on vegan food lists, and some non-vegan dishes can be ‘veganised’. So ideal if you come for drinks with a mixed party. Note: this beach club is not open all year round. So check if they are open before heading towards Bloemendaal aan Zee.
Zeeweg 7, Bloemendaal aan Zee
Sustainable beach tents in Bloemendaal aan Zee
In this list you will find sustainable beach pavilions in Bloemendaal - and one in IJmuiden that you really don't want to miss. We totally understand if this makes you want to drive to the sea to one of these beach pavilions. By the way, do you like to go to Zandvoort too? We have a list of fine sustainable beach bars waiting for you. And are you missing a green favourite in our lists? Let us know - we'd love to pay it a visit!
More tips in the area
Photo credits: main image: left & right: Bronze Beach, centre: Nina Slagmolen (Ron Gastrobar). Other: Bronze Beach, Ron Gastrobar at the C: Maison Rowena (food and drinks on the table).
