Frequently asked questions about beach in Burgh Haamstede

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season in Burgh Haamstede begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

Yes, there is a naturist beach near Burgh-Haamstede, between Nieuw-Haamstede and Westenschouwen.

• Where: along the west side of the Westerschouwen forest, at the 't Oude Vuur beach crossing.
• More information: an overview of all naturist beaches is available from the Naturisten Federatie Nederland.

Display Nudistenstrand Haamstede
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Yes, at two beach pavilions near Burgh-Haamstede you can borrow one and leave your own wheelchair safely for free.

• Strandpaviljoen De Zwaluw: beach crossing Watergat, tel. +31 111 461 570.
• Strandpaviljoen Sand&Pepper: beach crossing De Punt, tel. +31 6 23 09 23 87.
• Season: usually from June to September.
• Booking: call ahead, the number of chairs is limited; use is often free.
• Use: for beach and sea only; you need someone to push.

Display De Punt
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For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Burgh Haamstede at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

Up-to-date information on the bathing water quality at Burgh-Haamstede is available on zwemwater.nl.

• Status: good (safe to swim), warning (swimming allowed, possible health risk), negative swimming advice and swimming ban.
• Bathing season: from 1 May to 1 October the province measures the quality at the official bathing sites.
• Out of season: there are no measurements; you decide for yourself whether swimming is safe.

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Burgh Haamstede at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

Yes, several beaches in Burgh-Haamstede have free outdoor showers in season.

• Including: De Punt, Rotonde.
• Season: the beach showers are in place from early May to late September.

The wheelchair-friendly access to the beach in Burgh-Haamstede is at the De Punt (Kampweg) beach crossing.

Display De Punt, Kampweg, Burgh-Haamstede
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All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://burghhaamstede.com/en/horseback-riding.php

Yes, the beach in Burgh-Haamstede is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.

[Answer in Dutch]

Strandcabines te huur op het strand bij het Watergat, in de omgeving van strandpaviljoen Zuid Zuid West en bij de Scholderlaan te Renesse, vanaf 1 mei tot de eerste week van september.

Strandpaviljoen de Buurman
Strand Westerschouwen, Schouwen-Duiveland
Tel. +316 1294 4193
web. https://www.strandpaviljoendebuurman.nl/verhuur

Strandpaviljoen de Strandloper
Nieuw-Haamstede, Schouwen-Duiveland
Tel. +316 1350 6326
web. https://www.strandpaviljoendebuurman.nl/verhuur

Strandpaviljoen de Schaar
Duinovergang kunt u vinden aan de rotonde tussen de Kraaijensteinweg en de Steenweg
web. https://www.de-schaar.nl/

Not everywhere: metal detecting is prohibited on part of the beaches in Burgh-Haamstede.

• Beach rules: which beaches are affected is listed in the municipal beach leaflet (in Dutch).
• Rules: heritage law, weapons law and the local bylaws (APV) also apply on the beach; valuable finds must be reported to the municipality.
• Municipality: Burgh-Haamstede belongs to the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland, which can ban detecting through its bylaws; if in doubt, check the current rules.
• Dunes: searching in the dunes is prohibited, to protect nature and the sea defences.
• Tidy up: always fill in any holes you dig.

Yes, at most beach pavilions in Burgh-Haamstede you can rent sunbeds, beach chairs, parasols and windbreaks by the day.

• Booking: usually you rent on the spot; on busy summer days it helps to arrive early or book ahead.

• Only leashed dogs are allowed on the beaches of Burgh Haamstede during the period 1 May till 1 October between 10:00 till 19:00.
• Outside of the above mentioned period and time are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Burgh Haamstede.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

All local surf information (including surfing schools) can you find on our special page: https://burghhaamstede.com/en/cat/surfing/

Sport fishing from the beach of Burgh Haamstede in the North Sea and Oosterschelde is open all year and throughout the day allowed. Be careful when inserting your rod to the other beach and sea users.

To sport fishing in the sea from the beach you will not need a license. To fish in lakes (and other waterways) is a license and a fishing license required. These are available in tourist offices in Zierikzee and Renesse.

So even though sport fishing from the beach is allowed throughout the year, one thing remains; keep account of each other!

As far as we know, there are no hooded beach chairs for rent on the beaches in Burgh-Haamstede.

• Alternative: many beach pavilions rent out sunbeds and windbreaks.