The Dutch are very satisfied with the North Sea coast. This is apparent from a survey by the ANWB among more than 3.600 members who visited the coast last year. Zeeland, South Holland and North Holland receive an average score of 8 and the Wadden Islands even receive a 9. Members associate the coast mainly with beautiful, light and fresh air. At the same time, a considerable part of the members assess the coast as busy, with North and South Holland relatively most often experienced as fully built-up.

Walking, getting a breath of fresh air, relaxing and experiencing nature are the most common activities on the coast. A majority of members are satisfied with recreational facilities such as cycling and walking paths and beach entrances, and with accessibility by bicycle (including bicycle parking). The ferry service is rated the best on the Wadden Islands. 

In Zeeland, almost 17% of ANWB members consider accessibility by public transport to be moderate to poor, while more than half are unfamiliar with it. In the other coastal provinces, too, a significant group of visitors show that they are unfamiliar with the public transport options. In North and South Holland, 20% and 27% of visitors, respectively, find the parking facilities for cars moderate to poor, partly because of the high parking rates.

The ANWB also investigated what most influences the coastal experience. In Zeeland this is most strongly determined by the unobstructed view of the sea. In South Holland and North Holland, peace is the most important. On the Wadden Islands, this is the difference in built-up areas on the coast and the extensive dune areas. With this research, the ANWB wants to give visitors to the coast a voice in the Coastal Pact Monitor. 

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Four years ago, almost sixty governments and civil society organizations signed the Coastal Pact, which aims to achieve a balance between the development of the coast and the protection of its core qualities. The Coastal Pact Monitor monitors the development of recreational buildings and core qualities. The ANWB also offers the research to the coastal authorities, so that they can use it to improve their facilities and policy for tourists. ANWB.

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