By car, by train and bus or by bike: below you can read how to get to Katwijk and what to keep in mind.
To Katwijk by public transport: From Leiden Centraal station, Qbuzz buses take 20 to 30 minutes to Katwijk; the fastest link to the centre and the boulevard is R-net line 401.
To Katwijk by car: Katwijk lies on the coast near Leiden and is reached via the A44 or the A4 and then the N206.
To Katwijk by bike: Yes, from Leiden Centraal station you can cycle to the beach of Katwijk in about 35 minutes on separate cycle paths.
Airports near Katwijk: The nearest airport is Schiphol, about 35 kilometres and half an hour's drive from Katwijk.
Traffic on the way to Katwijk: It is busiest on sunny weekends, in the summer holidays and around Ascension Day and Whitsun, when much of the region heads for the beach.
Getting around Katwijk: No, Katwijk is easy to get around: the centre, the boulevard and the beach are within walking distance of each other, and a bike is the easiest way to explore further.
From Leiden Centraal station, Qbuzz buses take 20 to 30 minutes to Katwijk; the fastest link to the centre and the boulevard is R-net line 401.
Line 401: via Valkenburg and, since September 2026, along the new bus lane to Katwijk Centrum and Boulevard Zuid; several times an hour during the day.
Line 400: via Valkenburg to Katwijk Rijnsoever and on to Noordwijk (ESA ESTEC).
Lines 30 and 31: via Oegstgeest and Rijnsburg to Katwijk aan den Rijn and Katwijk.
From The Hague: express bus 385 runs from Den Haag Centraal via Wassenaar to Katwijk and Noordwijk.
Operator and paying: the buses in this region are run by Qbuzz. You check in and out with your debit or credit card (OVpay); current times on qbuzz.nl and 9292.nl.
Katwijk lies on the coast near Leiden and is reached via the A44 or the A4 and then the N206.
From Amsterdam and Schiphol: take the A4 and the A44 towards The Hague, then the Katwijk exit and the N206.
From The Hague: take the A44 or the N44 north past Wassenaar.
From Rotterdam and Belgium: take the A13 and the A4 to Leiden, then the N206 towards Katwijk. From Belgium drive via Antwerp, the A16 and Rotterdam.
From Utrecht and Germany: take the A12 and the A4, or the N11 via Alphen aan den Rijn to Leiden. From the Ruhr and the Cologne area drive via Arnhem and the A12.
Driving time without traffic: The Hague about 25 minutes, Amsterdam 40 minutes, Rotterdam 45 minutes, Utrecht 1 hour, Antwerp 1.75 hours, Brussels 2.5 hours, Düsseldorf and Cologne about 3 hours.
On arrival:parking in the centre and along the boulevard is paid; on sunny days the spaces near the beach fill up quickly.
Yes, from Leiden Centraal station you can cycle to the beach of Katwijk in about 35 minutes on separate cycle paths.
Route: follow the cycle junctions (knooppunten) along the Oude Rijn via Valkenburg or via Rijnsburg; the Old Rhine flows into the sea at Katwijk.
Shared bikes: at Leiden Centraal you can rent an NS OV-fiets.
Bikes on the train: allowed with a bicycle day ticket (dagkaart fiets), except on weekdays during rush hour (6.30 to 9.00 am and 4.00 to 6.30 pm). In July and August bikes are also allowed during rush hour.
Along the coast: cycle through the dunes to Noordwijk and via Berkheide and Meijendel to Scheveningen; see cycling for routes and rental.
It is busiest on sunny weekends, in the summer holidays and around Ascension Day and Whitsun, when much of the region heads for the beach.
Sunny beach days: between about 10 am and 1 pm the N206 is busy towards the coast, and back again in the late afternoon. The car parks near the boulevard fill up quickly.
Bulb season: from mid-March to mid-May the flowering Bollenstreek and Keukenhof draw many visitors; at weekends and in the May holidays the A44 and the provincial roads are busy.
Rush hour: on weekdays there are often traffic jams on the A4 and the A44 around Leiden, especially between 7 and 9 am and between 4 and 6.30 pm.
Live traffic: check the ANWB (in Dutch) before you leave.
No, Katwijk is easy to get around: the centre, the boulevard and the beach are within walking distance of each other, and a bike is the easiest way to explore further.
Bike: cycle paths take you quickly to Noordwijk, Leiden and the dunes of Berkheide; see cycling for routes and rental.
Bus: line 401 runs frequently to Leiden Centraal and express bus 385 to The Hague; see by public transport.
Bollenstreek: in spring the flowering Bollenstreek is a short bike ride away.
Leave the car:parking in the centre and along the boulevard is paid and scarce on sunny days.
Useful during your stay
Once you have arrived, these pages will help you on your way.
Parking: car parks, rates and free parking in winter
