Opening hours
The observatory is open from September to May on:
- Every Friday: from 20:00 to 23:00 (8:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
- Every first Saturday of the month: from 13:00 to 16:00 (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
- For special openings, please check our agenda. These often require reservations.
Location
Our observatory is on the edge of the national park Zuid Kennemerland in Overveen, with the entrance located at Zeeweg 15. It is cycling distance from Haarlem, but far enough to still enjoy darkness a little bit.
Pay attention: Lectures are often at a different location. Check your reservation for the address.
VIew the directions
Route to our observatory
Pay attention: Attention: If you come by car, you will find the entrance to the
observatory on Zeeweg, at number 15 (2051 EB). You can open the gate there if it is closed, and drive on to our parking lot. On the Zeeweg you will find signs that will lead you to us.
There is an entrance on Tetterodeweg, but this is only accessible for cyclists. Parking is not allowed at the gate on Tetterodeweg.
By car or by bike
From Amsterdam/Haarlem/Overveen:
- Drive down Zeeweg in the direction of Bloemendaal aan Zee/Zandvoort.
- After the roundabout and directly after the traffic lights take the first left (near the entry to the kennemerduinen)
- Turn 180 degrees (back towards Overveen) and take the immediate first right after the bus stop.
- You will find a gate. If it is closed you are allowed to open it and drive on.
- Keep driving until you see our parking lot on your right, and follow a lit up path towards our observatory
From Zandvoort:
- Drive down the Zeeweg in the direction of Haarlem.
- Turn right directly after the busstop near the Kennemerduinen
- You will find a gate. If it is closed you are allowed to open it and drive on.
- Keep driving until you see our parking lot on your right, and follow a lit up path towards our observatory
By train
For walking directions via Google Maps, enter the address "Zeeweg 15".
Get off at Overveen station. From there, it’s about a 20-minute walk:
- From the station, turn left onto Tetterodeweg.
- Follow the road along the railway for 500
- At the intersection with Brouwerskolkweg, turn
- At the roundabout, turn left and follow Zeeweg via the footpath on the left side of the
- After 400 meters, you will see the green gate of the observatory grounds on your
- Pass through the gate and continue straight ahead until you can go no further. There, you will see the red lights of the observatory.
By bus
Take Connexxion buslijn 81 (Haarlem – Overveen/Bloemendaal – Zandvoort v.v.) and get off at stop ‘Kennemerduinen’.
From Amsterdam/Haarlem/Overveen:
- At the busstop Kennemerduinen, cross the Zeeweg to the busstop at the other side.
- You will find a gate. If it is closed you are allowed to open it and walk on.
- Keep walking until you see our parking lot on your right, and follow a lit up path towards our observatory
From Zandvoort:
- At the busstop Kennemerduinen, you are directly at our gate.
- If the gate it is closed you are allowed to open it and walk on.
- Keep walking until you see our parking lot on your right, and follow a lit up path towards our observatory
Accessibility
Our hall is accessible via a wheelchair ramp. Lectures are given there every evening, and we have a rotating exhibition, as well as a small shop where we sell books, photos, and star charts.
Our dome is not accessible by wheelchair, however, we do have a special telescope that we can take outside and use while sitting in a wheelchair. Setting it up takes a while so it's nice if you could mail us about your visit in advance at info@sterrenwachtcopernicus.nl. This way we can prepare for your visit.