Beelden aan Zee Museum

Take a look around you. The sea is right there, the dunes rise up behind you, and somewhere between the two sits one of the most unusually placed museums you'll ever visit. This is Beelden aan Zee, which translates simply as "Sculptures by the Sea."

Theo and Lida Scholten founded it in 1994 with a clear vision: a museum where the art and the surroundings don't just coexist, they actually strengthen each other. And standing here, with the sound of the waves nearby and salt in the air, it's easy to see why they chose this spot. The collection moves between abstract and figurative sculpture, mixing established names with emerging artists. That balance keeps things fresh and makes it welcoming to pretty much anyone who walks through the door.

Step outside onto the boulevard and you'll find something completely different. Since 2004, American artist Tom Otterness has had a public installation here called Fairytale Sculptures by the Sea. His chunky, playful bronze figures are scattered along the promenade, and children absolutely love them. They turn the whole stretch into an outdoor adventure rather than a formal art experience.

It's sculpture you can stumble into, quite literally, on your way to the beach.