The Alkmaar Trip: From Callantsoog Down the North Sea Coast

As you recall, this was a seize-the-weather over-nighter to see Alkmaar (last post) and then spend the night in Callantsoog, before heading back south along the coast towards home the next day. 

Once again, here's the map of North Holland province to get your bearings.

As you see, Callantsoog is right on the North Sea, a tourist town.

After settling into our hotel, we went off to the beach before it got too dark.

It was very cold and windy, just like you'd expect Dutch weather to be on the coast in March.

Eline (PT) had told me to not walk in the sand because it'd wreak havoc on my knee.

So I was a good girl and watched Astrid do her shenanigans.

The next morning we drove to see the iconic Reformed church in the center of town...

...before heading out on our way south along the coast.

Lucky for us to see these Scottish Highlander beauties basking in the morning sun.

Ten miles later we arrived in Camperduin, where Astrid spent many camping days as a child.

It was almost 50 years ago when she was last there with her family, so a lot had changed.

The Kies Voor Water (Choose for Water) was a voting prop for recent Dutch elections.

Nearby the campground, we drove into the town of Schoorl to see the sand dune

where Astrid and her brother spent hours climbing up and rolling down.

Anything idyllic along the way, like this wee church, got captured.

 Did I mention that North Holland is tulip-bulb country?

At this time all the bulbs are still underground, getting ready to be harvested for sale.

Tulip bulbs are sold all over the world from these fields.  Maybe you have some in your own yard?!

Some of the fields will grow the bulbs to full bloom within a month from now.

Maybe we'll go back to see them.....

Our last destination of the trip was Egmond aan Zee to see the lighthouse.

As we walked through town, we had fun seeing all the boats...on dry land.

The housewife of the two windows said every time they travel,

they collect another boat for their window displays.

At the end of her street, there it was:  the J.C.J. van Speijk Lighthouse. 

We don't see many lighthouses in the Netherlands, so this was a treat not to be missed.

And then, just outside of Alkmaar, before we hit the fast track home...

we happened upon this system of WWII bunkers built by Hitler's men

to combat any British planes flying in from the North Sea during the war.

Don't get me started on these bunkers all over Europe, reminders of a grim time in history.

Instead, let's think about how when Life hands us some lemons,

we can choose to make lemonade!

And that sounds like a good note to end such a splendid trip, don't you think?
Carpe Diem!