Amsterdam Beach – Zandvoort aan Zee

What’s there to see in Zandvoort Beach Resort?

A lot of visitors think that a visit to Zandvoort only entails lying on the beach and ordering tasty cocktails or glasses of ice tea while enjoying the cool sea breeze and the summer sun. Well, while that is a popular pastime in Zandvoort, this little beach resort has quite more to offer the teeming visitors who flock there hoping to enjoy all that she has to offer. Yes, the Zandvoort weather is very favourable, especially in the summer months, but visitors have to realise that there’s so much more to this wonderful Amsterdam beach.

Despite having only 11 national monuments, there are still a number of interesting sights to see in Zandvoort beach resort. Sights such as the Town Hall, the water tower of Zandvoort and the bust of Elisabeth in Bavaria (Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary). Being that the beach resort isn’t very far from cities like Haarlem and Leiden, visitors can also take a day trip to these cities and see sights like the very old University of Leiden or the Frans Hals Museum and more.

Below are some sights to see in Zandvoort;

Zandvoort Museum

The Zandvoort Museum is the center for art and history in Zandvoort. The museum’s collection ranges from utensils, dinnerware, ship models, prints, swimwear, paintings to a beautiful glass collection. Art, on the basis of current exhibitions about new and old artworks, lectures and guided tours, creative workshops and the Museum also offers a platform for poetry, theater, music and dance. History, organised walks through the old center of the village, guided tours and exhibitions on various topics from the history of the beach resort.

Juttersmu-ZEE-um

The Juttersmu-ZEE-um is a free museum where articles found by beachcombers are put on display for all to see. Perfume, lighters, a mammoth tooth, whole and half puppets, old war souvenirs, shoes, toys, glasses, love letters in bottles, remains of ships or planes, a piece of metal from a NASA rocket; they’re all on display at this museum!

Zandvoort Circuit Park

If you’re a fan of racing, a trip the Circuit Park Zandvoort should be at the top of your must-see list. The Zandvoort Circuit Park hosts a number of events throughout the year and tickets can be purchased ahead of time on their website.

Holland casino

The Holland Casino is also located in Zandvoort. In addition to gambling, visitors can also eat at one of the many restaurants in the casino or attend one of the many events throughout the year. If you wish to visit the casino, you will need to dress appropriately. The casino’s dress code is “Stylish and Well-Groomed.” Leave your beachwear at home and dress up for the occasion. You must also be at least 18 years of age to enter the casino.

Center Parcs Aqua Cinema

Located in the Zandvoort park, Centre Parts Aqua Cinema is a swimming pool that has been transformed into a Cinema where people get to relax in the water as they watch movies on the big screen. Watching your favourite movie in a 25-meter pool while you keep fit seems like the best way to relax! There’s also a children’s section just in case you’re visiting with the kids.

What’s there to do in Zandvoort?

Zandvoort aan Zee has a lot to offer visitors. Beautiful hiking trails, an extensive network of cycle paths, the largest playground in Europe, the bustling capital, which is only 20 minutes away by train and of course, culture! Being a coastal town that is centrally located and also has its own train station, it is very easy to find your way to cities like Haarlem, Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden etc, in only minutes!

Zandvoort aan Zee is also a resort that attracts a lot of sports lovers. Visitors can go for walks on the beach, hike or go for bike rides in the National Park Zuid-Kennemerland and is also a paradise for water sports enthusiasts.

1. Relax on the beach and just enjoy the sun or go for a long beach walk

Chilling on the Zandvoort beach is a favourite pastime among the Dutch and tourists who visit the resort. There are lots of restaurants serving wonderful dishes, tasty cocktails and delicious snacks. If you want to be a bit more active, go for a long, refreshing beach walk. If the weather allows it, get your shoes off and dip your feet in the water!

2. Go hiking on the Zandvoort beach or woods

Walking is very popular in Zandvoort aan Zee. Whether you go for a walk through the woods or just on the beach, the experience remains unforgettable. There are hikes with professional guides who know the area. It’s also possible to go hiking on your own.

3. Go cycling in the wonderful nature

Cycling in Zandvoort aan Zee and surroundings is something every visitor must do! Cycling and enjoying the beautiful nature, along the elongated boulevard or just in the dunes all remain a thing of beauty. Bicycle rentals in Zandvoort is possible but another option could be to rent bikes in Haarlem and cycle from Haarlem to Zandvoort. The bike rental services in Zandvoort have lots of cycling maps and other various packages for cyclists. If you happen to be an adrenaline junkie, Zandvoort aan Zee also has an exceptional mountain bike trail. Along the circuit of Zandvoort and through the dunes with hills, steps and all kinds of other challenges. I hope you’re one of those who dares!

4. Visit the Zandvoort race circuit

Inseparable from the Zandvoort beach resort is the Zandvoort Race Circuit. A legendary and internationally famous circuit with a history that goes back more than 70 years. Every year, dozens of events take place to attract tens of thousands of fans. In addition to various spectacular national motorsport events, the calendar also features international highlights such as the Deutsche Toerenwagen Masters (DTM) and the Masters of Formula 3. Visitors are also offered a chance to follow driving courses and learn about drifting or “defensive driving”. There’s the Slipcourse Compact, which offers valuable knowledge such as assessing risks and responding correctly to unexpected situations while driving. For example, think of hard braking in the rain, taking a turn too hard or moving to snow. All these maneuvers can be annoying if you do not know what to do. It costs €119,- p.p. and takes about 3 hours. There are only two people allowed in a car and booking is based only on availability.

5. Go surfing

Perhaps not always the ideal place to find the best waves, but Amsterdam beaches still remain easily accessible for surfers from different parts of the world. Zandvoort is one of those Amsterdam beaches where surfers love to visit and surf away their worries. In the summer, the beach always seems to be crowded, but low season tends to be the best time with good waves for surfing. There are also lots of surfings schools, shops and surfboard rental services both in Zandvoort and in nearby Bloemendaal. Tourists always enjoy the wonderful atmosphere that comes with surfing and other beach sports during the summer in Zandvoort.

Apart from surfing, there’s also horse riding, beach volleyball, rafting, canoeing, swimming, etc.

6. Visit the nude beach

Although it is not widely advertised, Zandvoort has a 3 km long nudist beach on the south side of town. Nude recreation is allowed between posts 68 and 71. The area is clearly signposted. On busy beach days, naked is recreated well before the official start of the nudist beach. At the beginning of the nude beach there are 5 beach pavilions and being naked on the beach is only allowed on the terrace of the beach pavilion named “Adam and Eve”. Beach beds can also be rented at the beach pavilions at affordable prices.

Hotels and accommodations in Zandvoort

Zandvoort is a popular destination to spend a few nights. Not just for tourists, but also for locals, it’s an ideal beach break destination. So especially in Summer, with good weather, you’re better off to book ahead of time. Luckily due to the many visitors, there are quite some hotels and accommodations to stay, at different price ranges. From “Zandvoort aan Zee” to “Amsterdam Central Station” will take you only 30 minutes by public transport. So you can actually have accommodation right at the beach, while still being only a snap away from exploring all the highlights Amsterdam has to offer!

Booking.com

How to get to there

Zandvoort is an Amsterdam beach resort on the coast of Kennermerland in the province of North-Holland. Zandvoort is only 30 minutes by car away from the Amsterdam city centre and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The beach resort is easy to reach by train from these locations and is only 20 minutes away from Amsterdam train station by train and is just 15 minutes away from the city of Haarlem.

Buses to Zandvoort

There is a regular bus connection from Amsterdam Central Station to Zandvoort. Bus 80 runs from Amsterdam to Zandvoort, but it is a slow connection.

From Amsterdam to Zandvoort by Car

The N200 is the main access road coming from Haarlem. It can be very busy on sunny days, and in Summer and in the weekends traffic jams are common.

Getting To Zandvoort From Haarlem

The best way to go from Haarlem to Zandvoort would be by train. Trains from Haarlem to Zandvoort depart every 15 minutes and is only a 10-minute journey. Bus 81 also runs from Haarlem train station to Zandvoort but is a very slow option. The buses depart once every 45 minutes and can also be very full during the summer months. Best option remains the train.

For real-time travel information from wherever you are to Zandvoort, please check out this link;

Parking in Zandvoort Beach Resort

Zandvoort beach resort is surrounded by beautiful nature reserves. During your car ride, you will probably experience a taste of the unique dune landscape and the imposing villa districts. There’s a lot to see, but the challenge remains where to park your car.

Parking in Zandvoort isn’t a very easy thing to do. The best mode of transport still remains public transport but depending on what time you drive into the beach resort, there are some locations where paid parking is possible. There are many parking spaces along the boulevard and if you’re visiting with kids, it is more convenient to park closer to the beach entrance. If you can’t find a spot along the boulevard, you can also try one of the larger parking garages such as Watertorenplein or De Zuid. These parking facilities are all within walking distance to the beach.

In the center of Zandvoort aan Zee there is parking in the LDC parking garage. From there you can walk into the beautiful shopping streets of Zandvoort aan Zee. There are various payment options available for parking in Zandvoort Amsterdam beach. Whether with coins, a debit card, or via mobile apps, the payment possibilities are endless. It all adds to what makes the experience at Amsterdam beach one you never forget.

Some areas to park your car while visiting are;