What to do in Zandvoort, the Netherlands' most popular seaside resort? Since 1830, holidaymakers have been coming to this former fishing village on the North Holland coast for its endless beach, sea views and rolling dunes. In the beginning, it was mostly Brits who had discovered Zandvoort, now everyone comes to Amsterdam Beach.
From the capital, it takes just half an hour to get to Zandvoort, which, with its dreary blockhouses and monotonous apartment complexes, does not immediately evoke the image of an elegant seaside resort. This is thanks to the German occupiers, who bulldozed the old village during World War II. Zandvoort lost its historical character, but the debris of the houses was used to build the Circuit of Zandvoort. After spending your day in the racing city, why not consider staying in the nearby city frontier? The capital offers a diverse selection of accommodations to choose from. Head over to tophotels.com to find the best hotel within your budget. This allowed the seaside resort to put itself on the map as the racing city in the Netherlands.
If you look past the flats, you come to the longest boulevard in the Netherlands and a vast beach that cannot be rivalled. Sun worshippers, surfers, walkers and foodies come to Zandvoort for entertainment, soaking up the salty sea air and a crab sandwich at one of the fish carts. It can get very crowded on summer weekends, but in the off-season you are alone with the seagulls. There is always something going on in this lively resort. Here are 16 tips what to do in Zandvoort!
Find a holiday home in Zandvoort
Chill out on the beach of Zandvoort
What is Zandvoort without its kilometre-long beach? It is a beautiful 9-kilometre-long beach with golden sand that has attracted bathers for almost two centuries. You can get a breath of fresh air, take long beach walks or plop down on your beach towel to get a tan. You can take a refreshing dip in the sea, or go kite surfing, supping, kayaking, flying kites or horse riding. On hot summer days, it can be quite crowded, even though the beach is about 80 metres wide. If you walk slightly north or south, it is a lot quieter.
Zandvoort beach has long had the Blue Flag, which means it is clean and safe. During the summer months, lifeguards from the Zandvoort Rescue Brigade keep a watchful eye. In some places, you have to watch out for mussels, underwater currents that drag you into the sea. Are you taking your dog to Zandvoort? Then keep in mind that from 15 April to 1 October, the beach is forbidden to your four-legged friend between 09:00 and 19:00.
Stroll along the longest boulevard in the Netherlands
Especially sunrise or sunset is always a good time to stroll along the boulevard. In Zandvoort, you can do this very well, as the seaside resort has the longest boulevard in the Netherlands! It is a wide promenade 5 kilometres long between the sea and the town where you can stroll, cycle, skate or work on your muscles at one of the fitness machines.
Scattered along the promenade are several fish stalls where you can score a bowl of kibbeling or a fresh herring (the Zandvoorters themselves call it 'fish carts'). Also stop by the ornate sculpture The Seas of She, a stylised woman in groin boots looking out to sea. Local residents initially opposed it because they feared the sculpture would 'whistle' through the narrow openings.
Racing at the Circuit de Zandvoort
If you want to do something exciting, you should definitely put the Circuit of Zandvoort on your list! Of course, for the real spectacle, try to score tickets for the Formula 1 races. Thanks to a multi-million investment by Prince Bernhard and his business buddies, Zandvoort has been back on the annual racing calendar since 2020, although the reopening party was disrupted by the corona virus that year. In 2021, the Dutch Grand Prix will be held in September. For tickets, get there early, keep an eye on the official website(www.dutchgp.com).
Without the F1 drivers, it is still worth visiting the Circuit van Zandvoort, if only to bring out the own speed demon in you. There are several days in the year when you can test the height differences and fast corners with your own car, without a racing licence. You can also 'borrow' a race car or get wrapped up in a taxi ride alongside a professional driver. Moreover, there are regular other racing events, besides the legendary Formula 1. Address: Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 108, 2041 KP Zandvoort. Website: www.circuitzandvoort.nl
Relax at a cosy beach bar
After getting a breath of fresh air or sunbathing, relax with a drink at a cosy beach bar: who wouldn't want that? That's lucky, because almost nowhere on the coast you will find as many beach pavilions as in Zandvoort. No fewer than 37 beach pavilions can be found on the beach, five of which are open all year round. There is everything from the classic pavilion where you can go for a fish dish, to hip beach bars with cushions and rattan chairs that evoke an Ibiza atmosphere.
An old favourite is Tijn Akersloot(www.tijnakersloot.nl), one of Zandvoort's first beach bars that has been around since 1965. All year round, you can come here for drinks and bites from around the world. If you want to imagine yourself in Saint-Tropez, you should try joining Bernie's Beach Club(www.berniesbeachclub.com). Here you can chill out on luxurious loungers around two private pools. For fashionable beach bars, by the way, you can also head to Bloemendaal beach, just north of Zandvoort.
Visit the Zandvoort Museum
The Zandvoort Museum is the centre for art and history in Zandvoort. Here you will discover the history of the famous seaside resort, from tourism to the Grand Prix. You will see prints, photos and paintings and in various period rooms the nostalgia of the former Zandvoort can be found. The museum is housed in a historic building from 1897 that housed Zandvoort senior citizens for many years. Great if you want something to do on a rainy day! Address: Swaluëstraat 1, 2042 KA Zandvoort. Website: www.zandvoortsmuseum.nl
Zuid-Kennemerland National Park
In Zandvoort, you can perfectly combine a beach holiday with trips into nature. Sandwiched between Zandvoort, Haarlem and IJmuiden is Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, a beautiful nature reserve with wild dunes, drifting sand, forests and grasslands. It is one of the largest dune areas in the Netherlands, home to as many as 40 per cent of all animal and plant species in our country.
You can spot countless large grazers here, including Scottish Highlanders, Konik horses, fallow deer and a herd of wisents. The wisents live in an enclosed part of the park and can be seen from special vantage points. These are Europe's largest land mammals, also known as the 'European bison'. If you want to do something active, you can also visit the nature reserve, from cycling and hiking to swimming and horse riding. Address: Zeeweg 12, 2051 EC Overveen. Website: www.np-zuidkennemerland.nl
Beachcomber's Museum Zandvoort
Want to do something in Zandvoort with the kids? Take them to the Juttersmu-ZEE-um, a free museum where you can see what beachcombers find during their trip on the beach. You name it, it has been washed up from the sea, from dolls and a mammoth tooth to remains of aeroplanes and a piece of metal from a NASA rocket. Address: Strandweg 2, 2042 JA Zandvoort. Website: www.juttersmuseum.nl
Enjoy the skyline of Zandvoort
Opinions on Zandvoort's 'skyscrapers' are rather divided, but from afar the skyline looks quite nice. From a special Lookout Platform, you can see how the towers rise above the dune tops, and also enjoy the surrounding woods and dunes. You can find the viewing platform along the Visserschpad, a winding path that runs from Zandvoort to Haarlem. In 2018, the viewpoint was raised a bit, so you can look over the trees and actually enjoy the view.
Stroll through the Sloppies
During World War II, the old centre of Zandvoort was largely destroyed, but fortunately some authentic bits have been preserved. Dive into the small streets behind the beach and you'll find yourself in the Sloppies. This is not a slum, but the oldest part of Zandvoort with cute white fishermen's houses and sand-coloured villas. Here children play in the streets or real Zandvoorters take in life on their porches. The Wagenmakerspad, among others, is photogenic. Nice if you want to do something in Zandvoort off the beaten track.
Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes
For soaking up nature, you're spoilt for choice, as you'll also find a large nature reserve on the southern side of Zandvoort. Here you can take lovely walks in the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes, a 10-kilometre-long dune area that extends all the way to Noordwijk. Some two-thirds of Amsterdam's drinking water has been purified here since 1853, but nature has always remained untouched. There are 17 walking routes in the area, ranging from 3 to 30 kilometres. A walk is always varied, from high dune tops and distant views to coniferous forests and rolling hills. Address: Zandvoortselaan 130, 2042 XC Zandvoort. Website: awd.waternet.nl
Art in the HDMZ Museum
Art lovers can stop in at HDMZ Museum, housed in a modern beige-coloured building designed to evoke a feeling of Zandvoort's beach. The museum hosts exhibitions of modern and applied art from private collections that showcase Zandvoort's "rich and eventful history". Opened in 2019, the museum was founded by Jan van Beelen (1936-2019), an artist and art-loving Zandvoort resident who wanted to do something for the village in his old age. There is a cosy and colourful museum café where you can enjoy delicacies from Zandvoort. Address: Louis Davidsstraat 19, 2042 LS Zandvoort. Website: www.hdmz.nl
Admire Zandvoort's water tower
One of Zandvoort's landmark buildings is the New Water Tower, in the centre behind the promenade. The 48-metre octagonal tower was built between 1949 and 1951 to replace the Old Water Tower, which was blown up by the German occupiers in 1943. It has long ceased storing drinking water, but for a long time a restaurant sat at the top. After its closure in 2001, the iconic building was left to its fate and pauperised. There are now plans to reopen a restaurant at the top again. Address: Marisstraat, 2042 AK Zandvoort.
Shopping in Zandvoort
Of course you'll find tourist souvenir shops, but Zandvoort is also a great place to shop and pick up clothes and trinkets. Well-known shopping streets are the Kerkstraat, the Kerkplein and the Haltestraat. Here you will find a nice variety of shops, from boutiques and fashion boutiques of well-known chains to delicatessens and surf shops. Of course, as the race city of the Netherlands, a shop selling racing goods cannot be missed. At Pole Position(www.poleposition.nl) on Kerkstraat, you will find everything related to Formula 1, from model racing cars to the clothes worn by Max Verstappen. In summer, many shops are open until 10pm.
Visit the bunkers of Zandvoort
During World War II, the German army built several bunkers on the coast near Zandvoort to defend against Allied attacks. There were 400 in the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes alone. The bunkers were part of the so-called Atlantic Wall, a 2,600-kilometre line of defence from the north of Norway to the Pyrenees. The Zandvoort Bunker Team occasionally still stumbles upon new bunkers. With a guide, you can take a bunker walk past these concrete gribuses, which are often still half-hidden under the dunes. Book a walk at the Zandvoort tourist office.
Take a gamble at the casino
You probably spend a lot of money during your holiday anyway, so a gamble can be added too ???? Don't assume, but in the best case, you'll win back part of your holiday budget. Plenty of choice in Zandvoort, where you can go for stylish gambling at the Holland Casino establishment(www.hollandcasino.nl). There are various slot machines and at gaming tables you can try your hand at roulette or blackjack. Leave your flip flops and swimwear at home, as there is a dress code.
A stone's throw away, you will find Circus Zandvoort(www.circuszandvoort.nl), where the atmosphere is a bit looser. Here there are four casino islands with more than 200 slot machines (for over-18s), but youngsters and teenagers can play games in an arcade. In addition, there is a cinema and theatre, with red plush seats.
Take a trip to Haarlem
It would be strange to neglect Haarlem when holidaying in Zandvoort. It is a beautiful medieval town just east of the seaside resort, which flourished in the Golden Age with famed painters, beer brewers and an industrious merchant mentality. So there is no shortage of monuments in Haarlem, but it is also a city with fascinating museums, festivals, parks and concert halls. Admire the St Bavo Church, grab a terrace on the Grote Markt, take a canal cruise or view old masters at the Frans Hals Museum. ► Read 25 tips what to do and see in Haarlem here
What to do in Zandvoort: practical tips
Places to stay in Zandvoort
For a place to stay you don't have to look far in Zandvoort, as there are more than 500 addresses where you can spend the night. The resort has about ten hotels, but there are also guesthouses, bed & breakfasts and many flats and holiday homes. There are also campsites and bungalow parks. For the summer months, it is advisable to book early. During the Formula 1 races you need to book quickly, as all accommodation is full very quickly. Incidentally, the price of an overnight stay then skyrockets.
Are you looking for cheap accommodation for your holiday in Zandvoort?
► Book a hotel, flat or holiday home in Zandvoort here.
One of the better places to stay is the Beachhouse Hotel, right on the beach. You wake up to the sound of breaking waves in the surf and after opening the French balcony doors you have an unobstructed view of the sea. The 4-star hotel also offers yoga packages. For sea views, you can also book a few nights at the Palace Hotel, which looks rather ugly from the outside. The hotel opened back in 1965 and, at 80 metres and 19 floors, it is the tallest hotel on the North Holland coast. Downstairs is a good sushi restaurant.
Prefer to stay in a holiday park? Center Parcs Zandvoort is in an excellent location, within walking distance of the beach and the Zandvoort racing circuit. There are cottages for rent for 2 to 18 people or you can sleep in a hotel room on the promenade. The bungalow park has as many as four restaurants, a supermarket, an indoor trampoline park and the subtropical swimming paradise Aqua Mundo with two slides, a wild water course and a water cinema. ► Book your stay at Center Parcs Zandvoort here.
Eating and drinking in Zandvoort
As a tourist resort, there is no shortage of eateries and cafés in Zandvoort. There are no fewer than 37 beach bars on the beach, but there are also many restaurants, bars, pizzerias, fast-food outlets and pavement cafés on the promenade and in the town centre.
Zandvoort is not such a chic seaside resort as Domburg or Cadzand, so you won't find Michelin restaurants there. Nevertheless, there are some excellent addresses to be found. One well-known spot is Restaurant De Meerpaal(www.restaurantdemeerpaal.nl) in Haltestraat. This is Zandvoort's oldest fish restaurant, which has been serving traditional fish dishes to guests for over 40 years.
Every Wednesday from 09:00 to 16:00, the weekly market takes place on the Grote Krocht. The 37 market vendors sell everything from traditional local produce and fresh fish to fruit and nuts.
Travelling to Zandvoort
Zandvoort is easy to reach by train. From Amsterdam Central Station, you can reach the seaside resort in just half an hour; from Haarlem, the train ride takes just 10 minutes. The NS train from Amsterdam departs about twice an hour, and in summer four times an hour. From Zandvoort station, it is only a 200-metre walk to the beach. Bear in mind that in summer the trains are packed with (sweaty) bathers, so you may be lucky if you manage to get a seat. From Amsterdam-West, there is also a Connexxion bus (line 80) to Zandvoort every 20 minutes, a 1-hour bus ride.
Zandvoort is also easy to reach by car, at least when it's not nice and warm. On beach days, there's a good chance you'll find yourself in a traffic jam on one of the two access roads to the city. From Amsterdam, it is a half-hour to an hour's drive without delay, depending on where you leave.
Behind the boulevard are several car parks and in the city centre there is one car park, Louis Davids Carré (LDC), with 511 parking spaces. A very big place is Car Park De Zuid, with 1750 spaces. Paid parking applies everywhere in Zandvoort. The rate in summer is three to four times higher than in winter. At most car parks you pay at parking machines. You can find the rates on this website: zandvoort.parkeerservice.nl