Rain in Bergen? That comes with living in a village near the coast. Luckily Bergen is an artists’ village, and that means plenty to see under a roof. These are the places we go ourselves when it is grey outside, with and without children.
Looking at art
Start at Museum Kranenburgh on Hoflaan. The museum shows the art of the Bergen School: the painters who worked in Bergen from around 1915, such as Leo Gestel, Charley Toorop and Dirk Filarski. There are changing exhibitions, in an old villa with a modern wing.
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 to 17:00
- The Dutch Museumkaart is accepted
- On Sundays children can get creative with paint and clay in Studio C
Afterwards you walk straight into the village. Around the Ruïnekerk there are many galleries and studios, often with the artist behind the counter. You stroll from one to the next and are never outside for long.
The story of the village
At Museum Het Sterkenhuis you discover the history of Bergen: from traditional costume to silver and old prints. Small and cosy, and a nice change after an hour of paintings.
Music in the Ruïnekerk
From October to February there are concerts in the Ruïnekerk on Sunday afternoons. It is a chance to see the church from the inside too, with its wooden ceiling and green-and-gold organ. Read more about the history of the Ruïnekerk.
In bad weather the sea is at its most beautiful.
To Bergen aan Zee
With children, the Zee Aquarium in Bergen aan Zee is the best choice. You walk beneath the skeleton of a sperm whale, across a bridge over a pond full of piranhas, and you can stroke rays. There is also a large shell collection. Allow about an hour.
- Open every day, all year round
- October to March from 11:00 to 17:00; April to September from 10:00 to 18:00
- Own car park next to the aquarium
And if the rain stops for a while: coat on and onto the beach. During a proper downpour you have the sea almost to yourself. Not sure where to go? Read Bergen and Bergen aan Zee: the difference.
Under the trees
The Bergen Woods begin at the edge of the village. Under the trees you get less wet than you would think, and in autumn the colours are stunning. Afterwards you will be more than ready for something warm.
Warming up
With us you can settle in at the big reading table with a newspaper or magazine, a cappuccino and a slice of cake from Patisserie Roos. At the back is the conservatory, looking out onto the garden, with changing art on the walls. For a real rainy day: our homemade tomato soup or the classic onion soup with a large cheese-and-thyme crouton.
Children are welcome; we have a children’s menu, colouring books and games. Take your time: stay as long as you like.
Fabel’s tip
Make a circuit of it: Kranenburgh in the morning, lunch with us, the Zee Aquarium in the afternoon. Or turn it around and finish with a drink; our terrace is heated, so as soon as the rain stops you are back outside.
Good to know
What can you do with children in Bergen when it rains?
Go to the Zee Aquarium in Bergen aan Zee, or on Sundays to Studio C at Museum Kranenburgh, where children make art themselves.
Is the Zee Aquarium open every day?
Yes, all year round. From October to March from 11:00 to 17:00, from April to September from 10:00 to 18:00.
Which museum should you see in Bergen?
Museum Kranenburgh, for the art of the Bergen School. For the history of the village, go to Het Sterkenhuis.
Where can you sit indoors with a coffee in Bergen?
At Fabel’s, opposite the Ruïnekerk: at the reading table, in the conservatory or on the heated terrace. Open every day from 09:30, on Saturdays from 09:00.
Written by the team at Fabel’s eten & drinken, Oude Prinsweg 9, Bergen (NH), the Netherlands. Last updated on 9 November 2026.