The history of Zandvoort
Zandvoort has a rich history.
Events history
Only in Zandvoort do you find nature, race track, beach and village within walking distance of each other. And each core has its own eventful history. A history full of changes. One that time and again shows the adaptability of the coastal town. From fishing village to spa, from spa to defence line and from war zone to tourist destination as we know it today.
Fishing village to tourist village
Like many other coastal towns, Zandvoort was originally a real fishing village. Men would sail out to sea from the beach to return days or weeks later with a hold full of merchandise. On the beach, the fish was put into baskets and taken via the Visscherspad to Haarlem, where the fish was traded in the Vishallen. More about fishing in Zandvoort
More About Sissi
Spa Zandvoort
Along with rise of bathhouses in England, the beneficial effects of the sea were discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. This marked a turning point for Zandvoort. The village slowly changed from fishing village to spa resort for, in particular, the rich from home and abroad. The most famous visitor of the time was Empress Sissi of Austria. On the current boulevard near the Fenemaplein you will find busts of her.
Rise of coastal tourism
The commissioning of Zandvoort railway station in the late 19th century provided a direct connection to Haarlem and later Amsterdam. This provided a huge boost to seaside tourism and the beginning of the tourist village as we know it today.
Motorsport in Zandvoort
A flourishing seaside resort befits a car racing track, according to the then mayor Van Alphen. Circuit Zandvoort began in 1939 as a street circuit in Zandvoort-North. Temporary wooden grandstands provided seating for spectators while the cars raced through the district that was still under construction.
Circuit Zandvoort
From street circuit to Paradestrasse
Although World War II changed Zandvoort’s coastline forever, it provided an opportunity for mayor Van Alphen to realise his dream of a permanent racetrack. Using the rubble of the demolished buildings as foundations, the Germans began work on a ‘parade street’. That street now forms the straight along the main grandstands of the Zandvoort circuit.
Bunkers in Zandvoort
Atlantic Wall
World War II did not just cause a ruined boulevard. It also had a major impact on the nature around Zandvoort. As part of the Atlantic Wall, hundreds of bunkers were built by scattered in the dunes. Several of these you can still visit alone or with a guide.
Hannie Schaft
Apart from the bunkers, more traces of the war can be found in the dunes. The Cemetery of Honour in the Kennemer dunes is the final resting place of 373 resistance fighters, including Hannie Schaft, the girl with the red hair.