Egmond-Bergen art route
Egmond, Bergen
Bergen is known as an artists' colony because of the many painters who settled here since the early 20th century. Between 1915 and 1925, for instance, the Bergen School flourished in the village: an expressionist art movement with representatives such as Charley Toorop, Leo Gestel and John Rädecker. They were inspired by the natural beauty of the village by the sea, with its many woods and dunes, the special light and the idyllic centre. Museum Kranenburgh, on the edge of the forest, exhibits a large collection of works by the Bergen School. Bergen's village centre is a painting in itself. Picturesque squares and cosy terraces define the street scene, as do the village's numerous boutiques and art galleries. At the centre of the village is the centuries-old Ruïnekerk (Ruined Church), the symbol of Bergen. Originally three times its size, this monument went up in flames during the Eighty Years' War. The characteristic relic still attracts artists from far and wide. And for more than 30 years, an extensive art market has been organised around the Ruïnekerk on Thursday evenings during the summer months. Neighbouring village Egmond is equally enchanting. This village is loved for its tranquillity, with its beautiful dunes, wide beaches and the cosy coastal village of Egmond-Binnen. The many atmospheric monuments, such as the iconic Jan van Speyk lighthouse and Egmond's Slotkapel, also give the village its charm. No surprise, then, that the village has been regularly captured on the silver screen over the centuries. For instance, the Alkmaar painter Claes Jacobsz van der Heck gained fame in the seventeenth century with his numerous creations of the Egmond region. From 1636, due to the huge demand for paintings, he painted a large number of views of the ruins of the abbey, the Slotkapel and the village of Egmond aan Zee. His pieces usually featured groups of well-to-do people working, walking or resting in the village. His works still hang on the wall of many inhabitants of Alkmaar and its surroundings. This imaginative cycle route through Egmond, Bergen and a stretch of Schoorl Dunes will show you with your own eyes why the villages are so popular with painters and art lovers. Relax by the sea, be inspired by historic buildings, feast your eyes on the lively Bergen town centre and enjoy the salty air and wind through your hair in the extensive dune area around the villages. With a bit of luck you'll spot some Scottish Highlanders there! Note: in the Noordhollands Duinreservaat, the last part of the route, a dune pass is compulsory. You can buy this online or at the ticket machine at the dune entrance. This Premium cycle route was compiled by our editor: Dewi Hoijtink.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Slotweg , 1934 BB Bergen | 49.2 KM | |
|
From
31
to
4
|
468 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head north on Herenweg | 146 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Herenweg | 309 M | ||
| Turn left onto Nachtegalenpad | 13 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M | ||
|
From
4
to
5
|
1785 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head north on Herenweg | 79 M | ||
| Continue straight | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 05 | 0 M | ||
|
From
5
to
4
|
1785 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head south | 1.7 KM | ||
| Continue onto Herenweg | 79 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M | ||
|
From
4
to
30
|
5341 M | 5.3 KM | |
| Head west on Nachtegalenpad | 984 M | ||
| Turn right onto Egmonderstraatweg | 1.7 KM | ||
| Continue onto Boulevard Noord | 523 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vuurtorenplein | 69 M | ||
| Turn right onto Boulevard Ir de Vassy | 169 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Westeinde | 627 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zeeweg | 248 M | ||
| Continue onto Bloedweg | 595 M | ||
| Turn right onto van Oldenborghweg | 429 M | ||
| You are now at section 30 | 0 M | ||
|
From
30
to
29
|
2056 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head south on van Oldenborghweg | 199 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on van Oldenborghweg | 1.9 KM | ||
| You are now at section 29 | 0 M | ||
|
From
29
to
28
|
3356 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head east on Middenweg | 320 M | ||
| Continue onto Oude Schulpweg | 168 M | ||
| Turn right onto Sint Adelbertusweg | 533 M | ||
| Turn right onto Parallelweg | 18 M | ||
| Turn left | 83 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Sint Adelbertusweg | 233 M | ||
| Turn right onto Herenweg | 279 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vennewatersweg | 193 M | ||
| Turn left | 8 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 28 | 0 M | ||
|
From
28
to
32
|
2999 M | 3 KM | |
| Head northeast | 178 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight right | 10 M | ||
| Turn left | 90 M | ||
| Continue straight | 160 M | ||
| Turn right | 287 M | ||
| Turn right | 26 M | ||
| Turn left | 73 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 782 M | ||
| You are now at section 32 | 0 M | ||
|
From
32
to
31
|
3905 M | 3.9 KM | |
| Head northwest on Het Maalwater | 734 M | ||
| Continue straight | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Zomerdijkje | 843 M | ||
| Turn right onto Brededijk | 45 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kalkovensweg | 396 M | ||
| Turn left | 62 M | ||
| Continue onto Kalkovensweg | 24 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kalkovensweg | 186 M | ||
| Turn left onto Slotweg | 514 M | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
|
From
31
to
4
|
468 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head north on Herenweg | 146 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Herenweg | 309 M | ||
| Turn left onto Nachtegalenpad | 13 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M | ||
|
From
4
to
5
|
1785 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head north on Herenweg | 79 M | ||
| Continue straight | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 05 | 0 M | ||
|
From
5
to
7
|
3737 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head northeast | 1.7 KM | ||
| Turn right | 13 M | ||
| Continue onto Voert | 2 KM | ||
| Make a slight right onto Sluislaan | 28 M | ||
| You are now at section 07 | 0 M | ||
|
From
7
to
49
|
1670 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head east on Sluislaan | 731 M | ||
| Turn left onto Maesdammerlaan | 657 M | ||
| Turn right onto Van Reenenpark | 53 M | ||
| Turn left | 33 M | ||
| Turn right onto Van Reenenpark | 5 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Vijverlaan | 191 M | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M | ||
|
From
49
to
48
|
868 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head northwest on Breelaan | 868 M | ||
| You are now at section 48 | 0 M | ||
|
From
48
to
47
|
4292 M | 4.3 KM | |
| Head north on Duinweg | 15 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Zwarteweg | 745 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Blijdensteinsweg | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Julianalaan | 1.8 KM | ||
| Make a slight right onto Schoorlse Zeeweg | 96 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
|
From
47
to
46
|
2207 M | 2.2 KM | |
| Head west on Schoorlse Zeeweg | 2.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 46 | 0 M | ||
|
From
46
to
8
|
5729 M | 5.7 KM | |
| Head south on Dr. van Steijnweg | 2.3 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Blijdensteinsweg | 708 M | ||
| Continue onto Verspyckweg | 2.7 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Van der Wijckplein | 77 M | ||
| You are now at section 08 | 0 M | ||
|
From
8
to
5
|
4240 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head southwest on Van der Wijckplein | 39 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Van der Wijckplein | 427 M | ||
| Turn right onto Woudweg | 3.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 05 | 0 M | ||
|
From
5
to
4
|
1997 M | 2 KM | |
| Head south | 1.9 KM | ||
| Continue onto Herenweg | 79 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M | ||
|
From
4
to
31
|
463 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head east on Nachtegalenpad | 5 M | ||
| Turn right onto Herenweg | 458 M | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M |