A day of doing nothing by the sea

What does a day of doing nothing by the sea look like? Slow, and wonderfully unplanned. You wake for the first light over the dunes, read for as long as you like, walk the waterline without a destination and watch the sun sink into the North Sea. No programme, no list to tick off. In Bloemendaal aan Zee the beach is a short walk from the door, so the day can simply follow the light.

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That is the whole idea. Curiosity doesn't always need a plan. Sometimes it just needs a free day and a horizon to look at. Here's how a day like that tends to unfold, hour by hour, at whatever pace you choose.

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Is the sunrise worth setting an alarm for?

It is, but maybe not for the reason you expect. This coast faces west, so in Bloemendaal aan Zee the sun comes up behind the dunes, not over the water. You don't watch it rise; you watch what it does. The light spills over the dune tops and slowly turns the beach from grey to pale gold, while the sea is still dark blue.

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Sunrise shifts by hours over the year, so check the time the evening before on the sunrise and sunset times for Bloemendaal (in Dutch). Open the curtains and decide whether you head outside or watch from under the duvet. Both count.

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Breakfast first, then nowhere to be

The next part is easy: eat, and take your time doing it. Linger over a second coffee and notice that you aren't checking the clock.

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Then find your spot for the morning. A chair by the window, a sheltered corner outside, a bench with a view of the beach. Bring the book you've been saving for "when there's time". This is that time. Read until you notice you've stopped reading and are just watching the waves. Nobody is keeping score.

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Which way does the beach walk go? Wherever you like

Somewhere after lunch, the beach starts calling. Turn left and the coastline runs south towards Zandvoort; turn right and it heads north towards IJmuiden. Pick a direction, walk until you feel like turning back, and that's the route.

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Walk close to the water, where the sand is firm and the sound is loudest. Look for shells and watch the gulls ride the wind. On a quiet day you can walk a long way and pass only a handful of people.

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Along the beach lie the dunes of National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. If you wander in, stay on the marked paths: the dunes are fragile and home to plenty of wildlife, and the paths are there to keep it that way. And on a windy day, keep a respectful distance from the waterline and check the warnings from the Dutch weather institute KNMI before you set off. A stormy sea is beautiful to watch, not to test. Swimming? Only where and when lifeguards are on duty.

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Feel a little restless after all that walking? Then why autumn is the best season by the sea has ideas for days with a bit more to discover.

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Where do you watch the sun set?

This is the moment the day has been quietly building towards. Because the coast faces west, the sun goes down over open water. Take a jumper back to the beach, sit in the sand and watch the sky change colour, one shade at a time. Or stay inside: from a sea-view room, the sunset comes to you.

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Then the colour fades and you realise you haven't looked at your phone in hours.

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And when the light is gone?

Then it's time for the one thing a day like this still needs: a good dinner, without having to go anywhere for it. That's exactly what The Blonde x Blendin Bloemendaal package was made for. Your evening starts with a three-course chef's menu at our restaurant The Blonde, built around seasonal ingredients and pure flavours. After dinner, your dune-view or sea-view room is only a few steps away. The next morning starts with an extensive breakfast of local products, ready for another slow day, or for the trip home.

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Prefer to keep your evening open? You can also simply book one of our rooms and suites and let the day decide. And if your stay starts in the city, our story on combining Haarlem with the coast shows how well a busy day and a quiet one go together.

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Good to know before you slow down

You'll find Blendin Bloemendaal at Zeeweg 80, 2051 EC Overveen, in Bloemendaal aan Zee. Without a car, it's easy: from Haarlem Station, bus 81 brings you to the Bloemendaal Strand stop in about 15 to 20 minutes, as described on our contact page. The hotel has no car park of its own, but there is a public car park right next door. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 11:00. Prices, dates and what's included in the package are always up to date on the package page itself.

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Questions guests often ask

• What's included in The Blonde x Blendin Bloemendaal package? One night for two in a dune-view or sea-view room, a three-course chef's dinner at The Blonde and an extensive breakfast of local products. You'll find dates and prices on the package page.
• Can I watch the sunset from my room? In a sea-view room, yes: the sun sets over the North Sea. You can ask for a specific room when you book. We'll do our best, but we can't guarantee it.
• Do I need to plan anything for a day like this? No, and that's the point. Bring comfortable shoes, something warm and a book. The sea takes care of the rest.
• What if it rains? Then you read a little longer. Rain over the sea is a show of its own, and a window seat with a hot drink is a fine place to watch it.

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