Zandvoort Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Zandvoort

Zandvoort Town Hall

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in North Holland

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

43.97 km² (16.98 sq mi)

• Land

32.07 km² (12.38 sq mi)

• Water

11.90 km² (4.59 sq mi)

Elevation

3 m (10 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

16,546

• Density

516/km² (1,340/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Zandvoorter

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

2040–2042, 2116

Area code

023

Zandvoort is a town and a municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is famous for its long sandy beach and is one of the main beach resorts in the Netherlands. The town is surrounded by beautiful coastal dunes. These dunes are part of the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park and also help supply water to Amsterdam. Zandvoort is also home to Circuit Zandvoort, a very well-known motor racing track.

The municipality includes the nearby area of Bentveld. In 2017, Zandvoort had a population of 16,954 people.

History of Zandvoort
- Becoming a Seaside Resort
- World War II and After
Getting Around Zandvoort
Famous People from Zandvoort
- Sports Figures
Images for kids
See also

History of Zandvoort

Topographic map of Zandvoort, 2014

Zandvoort aan Zee

Zandvoort has been known since the year 1100. It was first called Sandevoerde. This name combines "sand" with "voorde", which means a shallow place to cross water, like a ford. For many centuries, the people of Zandvoort mainly made a living from fishing.

Becoming a Seaside Resort

In the 19th century, Zandvoort began to change. It started to become a popular seaside resort. This was similar to how towns in the United Kingdom were developing. The first resort opened in 1828. Many famous people visited Zandvoort after that. One notable visitor was Elisabeth of Bavaria, who came in 1884 and 1885. Around the same time, people also started growing potatoes in the dunes.

In 1881, a railway station opened near the coast. This made it much easier for tourists to reach the beach. A tram connection to Haarlem followed in 1899. These transport links greatly increased beach tourism. In 1905, one of the first Dutch fictional films was made in Zandvoort. It was called De mésaventure van een Fransch heertje zonder pantalon aan het strand te Zandvoort.

World War II and After

During World War II, Zandvoort suffered a lot of damage. In May 1942, people were no longer allowed on the beach. A few months later, almost everyone had to leave the town. Many resorts and streets were torn down. This was done to build coastal defenses for the Atlantic Wall.

After the war, Zandvoort grew quickly. Tourism also increased a lot. In 1948, Circuit Zandvoort was built. This track hosted the Dutch Grand Prix for many years, until 1985. The Dutch Grand Prix returned in 2021 as part of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. Today, Zandvoort is still a major Dutch resort. Almost half of all jobs in the town are related to tourism.

Getting Around Zandvoort

Zandvoort has its own train station, called Zandvoort aan Zee railway station. Trains run every half hour to Haarlem and Amsterdam. During the summer, there are extra trains from Haarlem.

Famous People from Zandvoort

Many interesting people have connections to Zandvoort.

William Merritt Chase (1849–1916) was an American Impressionist Painter. He painted his famous work "" in Zandvoort.
Lovis Corinth (1858–1925) was a German artist and writer. He died in Zandvoort after visiting to see his favorite Dutch masters.
Bep Schrieke (1890–1945) was a politician and academic.
Lou Bandy (1890–1959) was a Dutch singer and entertainer.
Anne Frank (1929–1945) was a Jewish diarist and a victim of the Holocaust. She and her family often visited Zandvoort in the summer.
Shirley Zwerus (born 1946), known as Shirley, is a singer and pianist.
Hans Willem Blom (born 1947) is a Professor of Social and Political Philosophy.
Stella Maessen (born 1953) is a singer who took part in the Eurovision Song Contest three times.

Sports Figures

Zandvoort has also been home to many athletes.

Elisabeth Koning (1917–1975) was a sprinter who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Bep Ipenburg (born 1936) was an artistic gymnast who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Bert Jacobs (1941-1999) was a football manager and player.
Roy Schuiten (1950–2006) was a track and road racing cyclist.
Loes Schutte (born 1953) is a retired rower who participated in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Jan Lammers (born 1956) is a former racing driver, known for Formula One.
Piet Keur (born 1960) is a former football player.
Harriet van Ettekoven (born 1961) is a former international rower. She won a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Danny van Dongen (born 1983) is a racing driver and entrepreneur.
Leroy Kaestner (born 1988) is a welterweight kickboxer.