Museums and attractions

Hoek van Holland offers a large numbers of interesting museums and attractions.

Coastal Lighting Museum

The coastal lighting museum is housed in the 100 year old lighthouse which stand along the Nieuwe Waterweg.

Jan Lels Lifeboat Museum

The Jan Lels lifeboat museum gives a poignant impression of the rescue services.

National Ferry Service Museum

The National Ferry Service Museum provides an illustration of the history of the ferry services.

Coastal defence museum 'FORT AAN DEN HOEK VAN HOLLAND'

Opened in 1889, it was intended for the defence of the then newly excavated Nieuwe Waterweg against attacks from sea. This restored armoured fort is now a museum.

The storm surge barrier

In the Nieuwe Waterweg near Hoek van Holland lies 'De Maeslant Kering', the final element of a plan to protect the Netherlands from the sea. The two arms of the storm surge barrier together close off the 360 metre wide Nieuwe Waterweg. The construction is virtually as big as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but it is four times as heavy in weight!

Expo-Info pavilion Waterway Centra

This striking building along the Nieuwe Waterweg houses two exhibitions: a changing exhibition on 'Hoek van Holland, Past, Present and Future' and the exhibition 'Rotterdam, a safe port'.

Events at Hoek van Holland

During the summer months a variety of events take place in Hoek van Holland.

The Hoek beach season is officially opened on Ascension Day. On the Sea-side by the beach, a huge fair is held with numerous other activities.
The night beach ramble is traditionally organised in June. This is a beach walk over a distance of approximately 17 km. from Hoek van Holland to Scheveningen/The Hague.
Highlight of the year are the Hoek Port Days which are always held at the beginning of July. In Berghaven you will find many unique vessels which can be visited. Boat-trips are also organised along the Nieuwe Waterweg, numerous (lifesaving) demonstrations are given and you can enjoy a spectacular kite festival.
At the end of July at Hoek van Holland the signal is given to start the famous beach six-day event to Den Helder. This is a walking/camping trip over a distance of approx. 140 km.
Sports events are regularly held on the beach, such as the national catamaran races and the volley ball tournament in August.
There are also events in the surrounding area, like the Distillers Festivals in Schiedam, the annual open day of the glashouse horticultural industry 'Kom in de Kas' (Take a look around the glasshouse) and the Hering and Beer festival in Vlaardingen to the Summer festivals and the World Port Festival in Rotterdam.