If you like your beaches secluded and your sand icing-sugar fine, but prefer a comfortable, rather than tropical, temperature, then head for Egmond aan Zee. This quiet village sits next to the lapping waves of the North Sea, and offers dramatic – often wind-whipped – views of the Netherlands coast. And there’s nowhere better to enjoy it all than this smart little home. A stay here rewards you with instant beach access. And if rain threatens to stop play? The open-plan living space has floor-to-ceiling windows and comfy seating. The kitchen has everything you need to put together a meal, but restaurants and bars are just a short walk away. The famous 19th-century Van Speyk lighthouse is within walking distance too, and the buzzy town of Bergen is a fifteen-minute drive away. Say hello to your new favourite seaside resort.