An Empress and Anne Frank - A Love Of Zandvoort

Zandvoort is a special place and one that has been visited by people from all countries and all walks of life for two centuries - from Empress Elizabeth of Austria who stayed there in 1885 to Anne Frank who as a young girl enjoyed trips to Zandvoort beach with her mother and elder sister. There is a wonderfully happy photo of them eating ice cream on Zandvoort beach.

If you have ever visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, you will know what a special place that is too. I have been twice over the years and every time there has been a long queue, such is the popularity of Anne's remarkable and moving diary.

If you have not yet been to the Anne Frank House, then you should - and if you are ever in Zandvoort then you can do a day trip as Amsterdam is only 30kms away.

Interesting Things On The Way To The Beach

Zandvoort is a fascinating place. Even on the way down to the beach you can come across some wonderfully different things!

Take this for example ... an unusual stone sculpture at the end of the Boulevard Paulus Loot.


Just below this sculpture, about halfway down the walkway to the South beach, there is the remains of a concrete bunker from the Nazi occupation of World War II. There are no signs indicating what it is or why it is still there; it just stands quietly amongst the dunes and surrounding grass but it is a tangible reminder of the amazing history of Zandvoort. More about this period in Zandvoort's history can be found on our Zandvoort 1939-1945 page.

Busy On The Beach - Zandvoort Has It All!

When it's a sunny day in Zandvoort the beach can be incredibly busy and people come for all different kinds of reasons.

Families with young children come to have a day on the beach where the children can enjoy playing in the soft, golden sand; with so many beach pavilions around, parents also know that food, drink, toilets and showers are all within easy reach.

Young people like to come to the beach for the atmosphere of the pavilions where they can sit in groups, chat over drinks and maybe even break off for a game of beach volleyball.

Sailing enthusiasts come to the beach for the Zandvoort Sailing Club.

There's also usually a good representation from older people too - they love to come down to Zandvoort when it's sunny and just relax in the sunshine, perhaps take a gentle dip in the sea and enjoy the long walks that Zandvoort beach can offer.

At this time of year, however, the photo below is a far more common one - an empty beach!

Zandvoort's The Place For Kitesurfers!

When the weather conditions are right, kitesurfing in Zandvoort can be fabulous to watch. At any given time there might be 20 or 30 kitesurfers all out there together.

Here is a photo we took in 2009 showing lots of kitesurfers in Zandvoort


Here is another photo of one of the great aerial jumps that you sometimes get to see ....

A New Year For Zandvoort

Another year passes and so we move onto another New Year - 2010. One of the first things many people do in January is to start planning their summer holidays. Some people choose a destination in a hot climate such as Thailand or Jamaica or Florida; some people prefer to stay in their home country; some people enjoy history so travel to places with interesting historical backgrounds; some people like to go to where there is lots happening - perhaps sporting events, music festivals, craft and antiques fairs ... the list is endless!

2010 in Zandvoort should be an interesting year with plenty of sporting events taking place at the Circuit Zandvoort and the usual plethera of 'special events' organised during the summer months. There was a great food festival in the town in August last year with local restaurant and bar owners all cooking food in small marquees for the pleasure of the town's people and tourists. Here is a great photo of Ron Brouwers, owner of the Laurel and Hardy (one of the best bars in Zandvoort), cooking for hungry diners. A great guy and always great food - and doesn't he look like Oliver Hardy?!

July and August are usually great months for activities in Zandvoort and if the sun shines too .... well that's about as good as it can get!