Dutch beach cleanup tour and free Strandbus trial attract thousands of volunteers and travelers

The 13th edition of the Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour, organized by Stichting De Noordzee, began on August 15 in Cadzand and Schiermonnikoog. About 1,900 volunteers will take part in 30 stages, adding to more than 119,000 kg of waste removed since the tour started in 2013. While overall beach litter has declined, the amount of small plastic pieces—micro‑ and mesoplastics—has not, prompting project leader Gita Maas to stress the danger these particles pose to wildlife and humans.

Since June 20, a free Strandbus service has been trialled on weekends between the EXPO Greater Amsterdam P+R site and the beaches of Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. Nearly 10,000 passengers have used the bus by early August, with ridership rising to over 1,000 on sunny days. The pilot, coordinated by the province of North Holland and the municipalities of Bloemendaal, Haarlem, Heemstede and Zandvoort, aims to provide a car‑free alternative and will be evaluated after the final weekend on August 30.