Frequently asked questions about beach in Cadzand

Cadzand has the title of "beneficial seaside resort" since 2013. This coastal town meets the international criteria of the European Spa Association (ESPA) and the Deutsche Heilbäderverband. A seaside resort only gets this recognition when the healing benefits of the seawater and the climate are declared beneficial.

Official recognition
A prerequisite for the official recognition is the presence of beneficial thermal water, or other natural basic substances. Furthermore, the location must be situated in a green, healthy environment, medical procedures must be able to be given (by a spa doctor) with the thermal water, and the presence of adequate leisure facilities such as a spa park and an open air theater is a must. The conditions for recognition is defined in the Struktur Grundlage of Kurortgesetze.

Criteria
The criteria, established, handled, and tested by the European Spas Association (ESPA) and the Deutsche Heilbäderverband are:
1. Use of natural resources of the environment, culture and climate.
2. A local healing agent can be applied.
3. Situated in an attractive natural environment.
4. A medical and therapeutic approach.
5. Infrastructure adapted to a vitality and health center.
6. Proven concepts of the bathing culture, such as Kneipp, Felke, Thalasso, sea baths.
7. High standard services
8. The location is a symbol for a positive life, cleanliness and pleasure, joy of life and lifestyle.
9. Programs and treatments tailored to the individual.
10. The possibility to socialize, and relaxing activities.

A natural and healthy environment
Seawater, sea air, climate and soil products all play a bath status role. The seawater at Cadzand was examined by the renowned international SGS Institut Fresenius. The sea turns out to be sufficiently "Sole" (salty) due to the special composition, and thanks to physical features.

Quality seal
Since then, Cadzand may officially call itself a "seaside resort". This bath status is a recognition for a place, and is considered a quality seal. The "Bath" recognition in foreign countries, especially Austria and Germany, is associated with strict regulations. Domburg and Cadzand are the first, and only two coastal towns in the Netherlands with this official title.

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://cadzand.org/en/horseback-riding.php

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season in Cadzand begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

On this website you will always find the latest information on the quality of bathing water in Cadzand: https://www.zwemwater.nl/

Possible messages are:
- Good: There are no reports for this swimming spot. You can safely swim.
- Warning: Swimming allowed, however there is a potential health risk.
- Advice against bathing: Not swimming, health risk.
- Swim Ban: Swimming prohibited, great health risk.

During the bathing season (May 1 to October 1) local provinces will inform you about the quality of the water of the official bathing sites. The measuring point is the place where most bathers are expected either where the risk of pollution is greatest.

Outside the bathing season, the bathing water is not investigated. If you go into the water off season, you must decide for yourself whether it is justified.

No, you may not enter the dunes of Cadzand. This is to prevent damage. The main function of the dunes is to provide natural protection for the coast against the sea. Without the dunes a large part of the Netherlands would be under water.

In addition, almost all the dunes in the Netherlands is part of a nature reserve. They are an important part of biodiversity. In the dunes live many animals such as rabbits, foxes, deer, lizards and many species of birds. It's official forbidden to pick the plants and to chase animals in the Dutch dunes.

Furthermore you are (of course) allowed to walk on the created hiking paths.

With regard to the public security fire (including a campfire, fire pit, grill or barbecue) is prohibited at all times on the beach of Cadzand.

Barbecues inside or on the terrace of a beach restaurant, are not covered by this prohibition.

Fishing from Cadzand beach is permitted all day during the period from October 1 to June 1.

In the period 1 June to 1 September, fishing is prohibited between 10:00 and 18:00 hrs on the beaches of Cadzand.

During the long beach season (June, July, August and September) there are some beach wheelchairs available.

A telephone reservation is recommended. Often the use of beach wheelchairs is free. The beach wheelchair is only for use on the beach and into the sea. All beach wheelchairs need someone to push.  

Below are the lending locations:

- Strandpaviljoen De Zeemeeuw, Cadzand-Bad (duinovergang 1).
- Strandpaviljoen Caricole, Cadzand-Bad (duinovergang 8).
- Strandpaviljoen De Strandganger, Nieuwvliet (duinovergang 17).
- Strandpaviljoen De Boekanier, Nieuwvliet (duinovergang 19).
- Strandpaviljoen PUUR, Groede (duinovergang 22).
- Strandpaviljoen 't Halve Maentje, Breskens (duinovergang 29).
- Strandpaviljoen Breskens aan Zee, Breskens (duinovergang 33).

Several beach pavilions in Cadzand are during the winter period open every weekend.

To our knowledge, it is not permitted to search the beaches of Cadzand with a metal detector. This is forbidden by the General Local Regulation (APV) from the local municipality of Sluis.

General information
Generally it is allowed to search the Dutch beaches using a metal detector at amateur level. Metal detection is a search method for finding metal objects in the ground. Beach searchers use a metal detector to find lost items (jewelry and coins) of bathers.

Of course, Dutch laws and regulations also apply on the beach. This means that you, also when searching on beach, need to take the following into account: Law on Archaeological Heritage, the Monuments law, the weapons and ammunition law, the local General Local Regulation (APV), Lost and Found items according to the civil law etc. Aside from that you should always leave behind your search location the way you found it. In other words, neatly close any dug holes.

A local municipality may decide to prohibit the use of a metal detector (detection ban) via the General Local Regulation. Therefore always check the General Local Regulation and/or contact the municipality where you wish to search. Cadzand is subject to the municipality of Sluis. Here you will find contact information about this municipality: https://www.gemeentesluis.nl/

Dunes
Note: Searching in the Dutch dunes is generally strictly prohibited. This is due to the protection of nature.

As far as we know there are no Strandkorbs (beach baskets) (for rent) on the beaches of Cadzand.

You can rent chairs, windbreakers and umbrellas at various beach pavilions in Cadzand.

Access to and use of the beaches of Cadzand is (of course) free.

• Only leashed dogs are allowed on the beaches of Cadzand during the period 1 May till 1 October between 10:00 till 18:00.
• Outside of the above mentioned period and time are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Cadzand.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://cadzand.org/en/horseback-riding.php

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://cadzand.org/en/horseback-riding.php

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

With regard to the public security fire (including a campfire, fire pit, grill or barbecue) is prohibited at all times on the beach of Cadzand.

Barbecues inside or on the terrace of a beach restaurant, are not covered by this prohibition.

There is near Cadzand one nudist beach. The location is at the Walendijk near Groede, between the beachpile 20 and 23 at dune crossing 24 (at Van Houten Strandbar).

You can see from the signs on the beach where the nudist beach starts and ends.

Display Nudistenstrand Groede
on the map

There are free showers at various beaches in Cadzand. Inter alia:
- https://cadzand.org/en/beach/7/appelzak.html

These beach showers are placed annually in early May and again removed from the beach at the end of September.