Direct metro to the beach!
The station's location is exceptional, enabling passengers to step directly from the metro onto the beach, a feature that is rare not only in the Netherlands but also globally. This development is set to boost Hoek van Holland's appeal as a year-round seaside destination.
In addition to the Hoek van Holland Strand station, the Hoek van Holland Haven metro station also began operations on the same day.
Hoek van Holland Strand (Rotterdam Beach)
Anyway, the easiest beach to get to – even with public transport – is the closest one to the Maas coming out of Rotterdam. Take the train, metro or car and just follow the signs to Hoek van Holland. It’s also the loudest and most entertainment-oriented beach, especially in the summer. If you like après ski, that’s the place to go to. There are a lot of beach restaurants, some shops and large public toilet facilities. Moreover, if you're coming by car, parking spaces are not a problem here.
Technically you can walk on Rotterdam’s beach all the way up Zandvoort - or even Den Helder if you are willing to take a detour. However, all the beaches have different names or at least belong to different villages and towns.

Hoek van Holland Strand
You will find two beach bars here; one is newly opened and caters to what foods and drinks the average city-dweller is now used to. Even better admittedly.
You will also find two surf schools here. If you take surfing seriously, there is just one place to go to at the whole beach which is Perry’s Surf school. The man personifies surfing and is a great teacher for all ages and so is his daughter. He is even so real about it, when the tide is cold in the Netherlands, he packs up shop and moves to Hawaii or New Zealand.
There is also a children’s play aeroplane, for days when it’s too cold to play with water all the time. Walking to the beach is a flat and straight affair which is why there are quite a few bike stalls to leave your bike.

Nude Beach (Naaktstrand Hoek van Holland)
's Gravenzande Strand
Watch out in the summer if you go by car (and there is hardly another way to get there) though! Do keep €4 in coins with you at all times. You will otherwise not be allowed into the parking lot – no, no cards, no bills, no other options. And do not try to change your money at the pub close to the parking lot. Even if you buy something or have a honking line of cars waiting behind you and a ton of hot, crying children in the car; these people will not help you. So, just make sure you got your coins ready and you’ll be fine.

The water is easy to access with a long slow slope. It’s ideal for even small children. There are even some shallow but sizable puddles forming on the beaches, so you get shallow water pools that warm up fast in the summer. The water itself has the tendency to be murky and brown. Together with the very industrial backdrop of the harbour, this can take some getting used to. Especially if you have rather more romantic holiday memories of beaches.

Surfs up

City beaches
Kralingse Plas (Kralingen Lake)

Kaapsestrand
If you dare to go into the Maas river, there is Kaapsestrand. It's a small city beach on Katendrecht. Don’t go too far in though, or you’ll be swimming with the big ships. The really big ones.
Nesselande
Another great city beach is Nesselande. By metro, this lake is half an hour away from Rotterdam's city centre. Jump off at the Nesselande metro stop. From there, it's a 5 minute walk to the beach. Beaches of Rotterdam - Nesselande 📷 Wijkagent Jacques Lems
Beaches of Rotterdam - Nesselande
Photo credit (main header): Iris van den Broek.