Beachcomber bag

Beachcombing is the search on the beach for washed-up items. Often these are objects that have fallen overboard from a ship or originate from a ship that has sunk. 

Beachcombing often originated from poverty. Residents of islands and coastal villages searched the beach for items they could use. Driftwood was used as fuel or building material. As a result, the beachcombers often came into conflict with the beach wardens.

When items washed ashore, there was often an exciting race between the beachcombers and the beach wardens. The valuable items found by the beachcombers were hidden in the dunes. They were later retrieved during a quiet moment.

A beachcomber was not always someone who merely appropriated accidentally found goods. In earlier times, fires were sometimes lit on the beach to deceive ships and lure them to the coast, causing the ships to sink and their cargo to be plundered. The beachcombers cared little about the fate of the shipwrecked.

Today, beachcombing is a hobby.

Beachcombing is encouraged on Dutch beaches. However, it is not about valuable goods but about waste that has washed ashore or has been discarded by beachgoers. At our Beach Pavilion "Zee van Tijd," you can pick up a Beachcomber bag and fill it with waste you find on the beach. Once you have filled the bag completely, you can return it to our Beach Pavilion and receive a delicious ice pop from us as a reward for your hard and good work!