The surroundings of Hotel-Restaurant Marijke

The surroundings of the picturesque village of Bergen are inspiring. It is hardly surprising then that since 1900 the village has attracted many artists, painters, architects and writers. Among them, the author Saskia Noort ('Back to the coast', 'The dinner club') and painters of the Bergen School lived and worked in the village. Many of the paintings can be admired in the Kranenburgh Museum in Bergen. The village also boasts a number of unique designs by the architects Jan Frederik Staal and Cornelis Jouke Blaauw which are listed buildings.

The nature around Bergen is diverse. The village is surrounded by dunes, polders, woods and heath. The Schoorlse Duinen, a wide dune landscape that lies to the north of Bergen, is ideal for walking or cycling. These dunes are the widest and highest in the Netherlands. Just as enjoyable is a walk on the beach at Bergen aan Zee. A number of music festivals, one of which is an annual event, are also an attraction of the village.

Tips:

• Visit the Cheese Market. See how cheese is checked, weighed and sold every Friday morning from 10:00 to 12:00 on the Waagplein in Alkmaar. From 2 April to 3 September.
• Or visit the Holland Cheese Museum. A visit to Alkmaar and its cheese market is not complete without a visit to the Holland Cheese Museum. Taste today's cheese on the square, and get a taste of the cheese of years gone by in the adjacent museum.
• Or go for beer tasting in the National Beer Museum De Boom. This museum in Alkmaar is one of the few places in the Netherlands where visitors can learn about the history of beer brewing.
• The underwater world is close by at the Sea Aquarium Bergen aan Zee. Its 44 aquariums are divided into four habitats housing 240 different sea creatures showing life under water.
• Visit the Beverwijk Bazaar. A place where many cultures come together in the Netherlands. Experience the many smells, colours and tastes of one of Europe's largest covered markets.
• Take a trip to the Auto Union Museum. A very special museum containing vintage cars of the brands  Horch, Wanderer and D.K.W., now known as Audi.
• Or feel the wind in your hair on the beach. The Schoorlse Duinen, with the highest and widest dunes in the Netherlands and the sea close by, guarantee an enjoyable bicycle ride or walk.