Netherlands Golf Course Renovations to Watch in 2026
The Netherlands does not build many courses, so when one of its links classics goes under the spade it shapes a whole season of planning. In 2026 the headline is Noordwijkse, midway through a multi year overhaul of its turf and greens that limits access for visiting golfers. Here is what is changing and how to plan around it.
The headline: Noordwijkse rebuilds its turf
The Dutch story of the year is at Noordwijkse Golfclub, the dune links north of The Hague that ranks among the country's finest. The club is in the middle of a major renovation that runs from 2024 to 2027, with the aim of moving to maintenance completely free of chemical pesticides. The work involves enlarging the greens and replacing old, contaminated soil so the grass can establish and thrive naturally on the sandy base.
For the visiting golfer the most important detail is access. From early May 2026 only the back nine is open for play while the work continues, so a round at Noordwijkse during the renovation will not be the full eighteen hole experience. That changes the maths for anyone routing a Dutch links trip through the coast in 2026.
Why the work matters
This is not a cosmetic project. Rebuilding greens and replacing soil to support pesticide free maintenance is a long term investment in turf quality and sustainability, and it is the kind of work that pays off for years once the course settles. Dutch links sit on genuine dune sand, which is exactly the canvas that rewards this sort of careful, science led greenkeeping.
The trade off is patience. A course in the middle of a multi year turf programme, and limited to nine holes for stretches of 2026, is one to admire for the long game rather than to build a trip around this season. The reward comes when the full eighteen returns in even better condition.
The wider Dutch links picture
The good news for a 2026 trip is that the Netherlands has more than one great links. Kennemer Golf and Country Club, the Harry Colt design from 1927 near Zandvoort, remains one of the most admired courses in continental Europe and is the natural anchor while Noordwijkse is restricted. Add Koninklijke Haagsche, the Royal Hague club in the dunes near The Hague, and you have a coastal trio that can carry an itinerary on its own.
Routed together, Kennemer and Royal Hague give a visitor two top tier dune courses within easy reach of Amsterdam and The Hague, which is more than enough to justify a long weekend even with Noordwijkse in the workshop.
What it means for your trip
The practical advice for 2026 is to build a Dutch links trip around Kennemer and Royal Hague, treat Noordwijkse as a nine hole bonus to confirm at booking, and keep an eye on its full reopening as the 2024 to 2027 programme completes. Amsterdam makes an easy base, with the coastal courses a short drive away, so the golf folds neatly into a city break.
As always, confirm before you commit. Access windows during a multi year renovation can change at short notice, and green fees at the leading Dutch clubs are quoted seasonally, so treat any figure as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
Our take
The Netherlands is one of European golf's quiet pleasures, a short hop from the UK with genuine dune links and an easy city base. Noordwijkse's turf rebuild is exactly the sort of patient, sustainability led work that keeps a classic at the top of its game, even if it means a thinner offering in 2026. Our advice is to go anyway, anchor the trip on Kennemer and Royal Hague, and put Noordwijkse on the list for the season after the works finish.
Plan your Netherlands golf trip
From the Harry Colt links at Kennemer to Royal Hague in the dunes near The Hague, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
What is being renovated at Noordwijkse in 2026?
Noordwijkse Golfclub is in a major renovation running from 2024 to 2027, enlarging its greens and replacing old, contaminated soil to move to maintenance free of chemical pesticides. From early May 2026 only the back nine is open for play.
Can you still play a full Dutch links trip in 2026?
Yes. Kennemer, the Harry Colt design from 1927 near Zandvoort, and Koninklijke Haagsche, the Royal Hague club near The Hague, are both open and make a strong coastal pairing while Noordwijkse is restricted.
When will Noordwijkse return to full eighteen holes?
The renovation programme is scheduled to run to 2027. Access during the works can change, so confirm the current state of play directly with the club before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Renovation and opening details verified June 2026 from club, architect and golf media sources; projects and dates change, so always confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.