Zandvoort Sloppies
The Zandvoort Sloppies reflect the village’s rich fishing history.
Sloppiness Zandvoort
Sloppies are the picturesque streets of Zandvoort that invite you to take a leisurely stroll. Located behind the beach, these streets are steeped in history and the traces of the fishing era can still be felt. As you stroll through the slums, you will discover stately villas in shades of white and sand, often with bay windows, battlements and verandas, alongside the old fishermen’s houses.
Lose yourself in the sloppies
The Sloppies are located around the centre, near the Zandvoorts Museum, including Achterom and Rozenobelstraat. Here you can still discover traces of the village’s rich fishing history. Names such as Land’s End, Hendrika and Zeezicht give the houses a unique character and bring a piece of nostalgia into the present.
Zandvoorts Museum
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During the Sloppies walk, you will discover the authentic Zandvoort, where the history of the former fishing village can still be felt. A guide will lead you along the charming streets, the old fishermen’s houses and various historical sites that bring the history of Zandvoort to life. You may come across small steps along the way. The walk is 1.7 kilometres long and takes about 20 minutes. Book your tour at the Zandvoorts Museum for €7.50 p.p. Or do the walk independently in book form for just €5. Booking is easy at the museum reception.
Walk through the old town
The narrow streets and old houses gave me the feeling of returning to the past. It was nice to see the past so well preserved.
-Anne-
Authentic Fishing history
Over 1900 years ago, the sea level was lower and the wind had free rein along the beach flats. Sand drifts created the dunes on which the village of Sandevoerde was founded around 1100. Sande” means dunes or sand, and “Voerde” refers to a ford. The land was difficult to work because of the sand, but the sea offered fish such as cod, plaice and herring. The fishermen went out to sea in simple little boats, while the women took the catch in baskets across the Visserschpad to Haarlem to sell the fish at the Grote Markt.
From fishing to the bathers
Due to its isolated location, Zandvoort lived in peace and poverty for a long time. For centuries, life consisted mainly of fishing, poaching or growing potatoes (dune peepers). It was only after the construction of the harbour at IJmuiden in 1870 and the arrival of bathers that life in the village changed dramatically. Around the turn of the century, large-scale fishing came to a standstill. Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) was one of the most famous bathers who discovered the healthy sea air and put Zandvoort on the map as a seaside resort.
{The smallest fisherman's cottage
A special gem is the smallest fisherman’s cottage in the village, which stands in Roseobel Street. Without the extension, the hut measures just four by four metres and was once occupied by several people. The inhabitants slept in a cramped space in a box bed or on the floor, with grandparents and parents often sharing the box bed. For many years, the house was used as a garage for a small Fiat, until it was made habitable again with an extension.
Stinking bucket route
The catch of the Zandvoort fishermen was traded to Haarlem by their wives. From the beach, the Zandvoort fish walkers made their way on foot through the loose dune sand to the fish hall in the centre of Haarlem. On the way, they passed places with names such as the Stocking Column, Kraantje Lek and De Stinkende Emmer. All places with a history that you can still visit today. With the Stinking Bucket Route, you follow in the footsteps of the Zandvoort fish walkers to Haarlem and pass by these places.
