Amsterdam is a city that never ceases to amaze. It’s full of museums, canals, parks, and all kinds of hang-out spots. Yet sometimes it feels good to get away from the hustle of the big city. One of the best places to blow off some steam is Amsterdam’s beach.
In the warmer months, there’s nothing like hitting the beach for the day and soaking up the sun. The Dutch do so even when there’s no summer and sunshine to enjoy. They go for a walk, let the wind blow their worries away (uitwaaien – yes, there’s a term for it), and make the best of it. As they tend to do!
Getting to this part of the Netherlands is easy, wherever you’re arriving from. There’s a train station in Zandvoort and the walk to the beach takes about 15 minutes. A bike trip from Amsterdam takes about an hour and a half. You can also go by bus and the car ride takes a bit more than half an hour from the city.
What to do in Zandvoort
Zandvoort is promoted as Amsterdam’s beach but there’s much more to it. First of all, the calming effect it produces as soon as you breathe in the salty air. Whichever street you decide to take to get to its little centre will get you to appreciate a slower pace. Many houses double as apartments in the summer and there are a few cute B&Bs. There are hotels too, and some have sadly ruined the vista of an otherwise picturesque seaside town.
You’ll know you’ve reached the main square when you see the gorgeous Zandvoort Town Hall building. The heart of the town offers drinks and classic Dutch food such as poffertjes, stroopwafels, and frites. There’s probably more to it – this is based on the always inviting smell of these foods that never seem to escape my senses.
Overlooking the town is a lovely church and the water tower. It got destroyed in WW2, together with a lot of other landmarks. It’s been rebuilt and once you’re there you’ll catch a glance of the sea. The North Sea is quite unlike to what I’m used to – the Mediterranean cannot compare to it for me 😊
The beach is Zandvoort’s integral part; the promenade stretches out for as far as the eye can see. And beyond. It’s dotted with cafes and restaurants where you can grab a little something and enjoy it on the go. When there’s no raging pandemic, it’s so delightful hanging out on a terrace, but let’s savour that another day.
My favourite place to grab some fresh seafood is a food truck called De Zeemeermin. It’s pretty inexpensive (especially compared to Amsterdam prices), the owners are friendly, and the food is amazing. I always go for the mixed platter because everything looks too delicious to choose. I do the same with sauces – the pink-coloured one somehow tastes the best, though.
The beach is great for all kinds of water sports like surfing, diving, kitesurfing… You name it, they’ve got it. In winter, there are lots of dogs running around, friends strolling, kids playing in the sand. If you walk north, you’ll get to Bloemendaal, the place to be in the summer months.
Right before it and a bit more inland is the Zandvoort Racing Circuit. The racetrack started operating in the 1930s. It should’ve been home to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2020, which got postponed to this September. Right next to it is the entrance to the (northern) dunes: Noordduinen.
An astonishing variety of nature
There’s a part of a national park that runs through Zandvoort. It’s called Zuid-Kennemerland and it’s free to visit (yes, even during covid). It’s great for hiking and biking – there’s a map you can download here and figure out your route. Some paths are only open from spring until autumn, but alternatives can get you to where you want to go.
Besides the sandy dunes, there’s a variation of the natural and animal world you can get to know. And you can do so while riding on a horse. There are riding schools in the area where you can go rent a horse for a few hours. Or admire them when you encounter them on a walk, they are majestic.
You can also see foxes, rabbits, and deer in the park. It’s home to the European bison – you can see this huge animal called wisent from March 1st until September 1st. I didn’t need an extra reason to return here but meeting this animal would put the cherry on top.
The rugged landscape looks like something out of a Western or like you’ve walked into another part of the world entirely. Dunes are everywhere you look; nature is untouched, and you can go wherever you want. The only restrictions are the fence from the racing circuit and areas where the wisents live.
What surprised me are the lakes surrounding the dunes. They bring an even bigger diversity to the sand-dominated scenery. You can swim in one of them during the summer, ‘t Wed.
The park is enormous and probably best (or quickest) explored on a bike. You can rent one there and get a map with all the possible routes.
More than the beach
Zandvoort is a charming town just south of Haarlem that is popular for its beach. The sea and sand are cool, yet Zandvoort offers lots more. In Dutch, it translates to ‘sandy dune’, and do yourself a favour and go check some out. This is the first time I did so, and I will be back to explore some more.
Do you also like going back to places you’ve visited before and found something you’ve never thought is there? Did you visit Zandvoort before? What did you think of it? I’d love to know! 😊
Cultourist 
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