Zandvoort Holland Blog

Water Sports in Zandvoort ... and Northumberland!

2010-02-21T03:37:00.000-08:00

Windsurfing, kitesurfing and water sports in general are a big attraction for visitors to Zandvoort. People come from all over Europe to enjoy what the sea has to offer on this part of the Dutch coastline.

One of the most well known and celebrated kitesurfers is Aaron Hadlow who is British. I don't know if he's ever been to Zandvoort but coming from an island of course he has plenty of coastline for water sports almost in his back yard - so it's no surprise that Britain should produce a world kitesurfing champion!

There are many water sports centres on the coast of Britain - for example I know of one on the Northumberland coastline in a small village which you've probably never heard of called Beadnell. Beadnell used to be a busy fishing port but times have changed - just like in Zandvoort - and today Beadnell is more well known for its clear and sparkling water as well as miles of clean, sandy beaches which makes it an ideal place for water sports.

On the Northumberland coast there is plenty of other outdoor fun - fishing, riding, walking, golf, birdwatching. There are also many historic places including Alnwick Castle (Hogwart's Castle as some call it because it was used in the Harry Potter films). The most spectacular castles are on the coast however - Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle.

If you ever visit Northumberland and you want a self catering holiday cottage, there are some super Northumberland cottages especially along or near to the coast.

Here are 2 really nice places we heard about, both in Beadnell and both with Enjoy England 4 Star Awards:

Cloggy Nook - Beadnell holiday cottage
East Cuttles - Beadnell holiday cottage (photo)

Zandvoort's Bunkers

2010-02-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows Zandvoort well will know a little Zandvoort history.

From its early days as a fishing village to its 'glory' days as a resort favoured by Europe's aristocracy through to the darker days of occupation in WWII and then its resurgence as a modern day coastal resort capable of drawing tens of thousands of people in on a sunny day. Zandvoort has seen a lot.

Amongst the tangible remnants of its history are the bunkers (or remains of them) from WWII. Still the subject of research and study today, much has been written about Zandvoort's concrete bunkers.

We referred to the remains of one of them in a recent post called Interesting Things On The Way To The Beach.

Here is a photo of one of the Zandvoort bunkers which we took last summer.

An Empress and Anne Frank - A Love Of Zandvoort

2010-01-27T03:52:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-10T03:54:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

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!

Longing For Summer - More Zandvoort Memories

2009-12-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

During the winter months when it is cold and dark, we often look back to the summer and long for those warmer, sunnier days when the world seems a different place. Zandvoort is one of those special places that takes on a very different atmosphere when it's sunny and warm. The sunset over Zandvoort beach is particularly special as it creates some wonderful seascapes; at the end of a summer's day the colours are magnificient, changing over and over as the sun slowly sets. Here is a typical beach cafe bathed in the fading golden light of the sun's last rays that day.

Dancing On The Beach!

2009-12-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

There are many things people do on Zandvoort beach but one you don't often see is a big group of people dancing. However, one evening whilst strolling by the seashore at sunset we came across a party being held at one of the beach cafes with about 30 people all dancing down on the sand. There was a full PA system and DJ and everyone was having a great time!

Ijmuiden Ferry - Just 20 mins From Zandvoort

2009-12-16T03:57:00.000-08:00

One of the routes that Dutch people take to travel to the UK and that the British take to travel to The Netherlands is the ferry which goes from Ijmuiden just North of Zandvoort to North Shields close to Newcastle in England.

It is a route we have travelled often and whenever we leave we tell our friends on the beach to watch out for the ship sailing out in the early evening. They always tell us they do it - it's fun!

Here is a photograph we took standing on Zandvoort beach one summer evening in July 2009. We watched the ferry leaving Ijmuiden harbour and disappearing into the distance headed for England.

Beach Sunsets In Zandvoort

2009-12-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

There is possibly little else that compares to a golden, setting sun reflecting on the sea. As it faces West, Zandvoort is perfectly placed to witness many such sunsets.

Here are just 2 from the summer of 2009 ....

Kitesurfing Lessons

2009-12-08T03:15:00.000-08:00

Watching kitesurfers is fascinating and you can get absorbed for hours as they test themselves over and over against the conditions, doing jumps and stunts. Just as interesting is watching someone have a kitesurfing lesson.

At the very beginning they might just be asked to get used to the feel of a small kite using a harness and the bar with the lines attached.

Later when they take to the water they will have their kitesurfing teacher close by. Here is a great example of that - Okke Engel with one of his students on Zandvoort beach just after finishing a kitesurfing lesson.

Okke has his own kitesurfing school in Zandvoort.

Kitesurfing & Walking The Kite

2009-12-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

One of the most popular pastimes in Zandvoort is kitesurfing. We started covering this topic in our Zandvoort Blog a while ago when we did our first post about kitesurfing in Zandvoort.

Classed as an 'extreme sport' it attracts many kitesurfers to the Zandvoort beach every year. We always enjoy watching them and this summer we took more photos than usual, even filming a kitesurfing teacher Okke Engel (photographed below walking his kite after a long kitesurfing session). You can watch Okke showing how it's done in our kitesurfing video.

Below is an interesting picture of a girl who was learning to kitesurf last summer - she was able to kitesurf downwind (towards the north beach) but had not yet learned how to sail into the wind and return back southwards. So every time she went as far north as she could within the kitesurfing zone, she had to come in to shore and walk her kite back up.

Kitesurfers always keep a keen eye on the weather and with Zandvoort weather you have to know what you are doing. The winds can be very strong and the weather sometimes unpredictable. Understanding the weather conditions is crucial to safe kitesurfing.

Read more about kitesurfing - check out the some kitesurfing FAQs (kindly written for us by Okke Engel).

Here is a list of kitesurfing locations around the world.

Ice Cream - At Night!

2009-11-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Something we always enjoy on a trip to Zandvoort is an ice cream treat at the San Remo ice cream parlour. If you read our Ice Cream In Zandvoort post you will already know that!

One evening we had been out to dinner with a friend (an expert in Zandvoort weather) and afterwards we took a stroll down Haltestraat and called in at the San Remo. It was busy! The ice cream is delicious and the atmosphere pleasant. Here is one of the photos we took as we left.

Read more about ice cream parlours in Zandvoort.

Nighttime Cafe In Zandvoort

2009-11-22T14:57:00.000-08:00

After a warm, relaxing day on the beach it's great to go into Zandvoort and enjoy one of the many bars, cafes or restaurants. You can have a casual or a formal meal or just sit and enjoy a few drinks with friends at one of the cafes like this one we photographed in Kerkplein.

A Busy Summer Day In Zandvoort - The Car Park Barometer

2009-11-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

If you ever wanted proof of Zandvoort's popularity when the sun comes out, just look to the car parks - they are all usually full to overflowing by 10am!

Here is a picture we took in the summer of 2009 on such a day - the forecast for Zandvoort's weather had predicted high temperatures, no wind and little cloud so everyone for miles around headed to Zandvoort beach as early as they could that morning.

Note - this picture was taken the same day as the one with the cows in the dunes published on the previous post. As we said before, the cow didn't seem to mind the people and the noise!

Cows In The Zandvoort Dunes

2009-11-20T03:48:00.000-08:00

In our previous post about Zandvoort's dunes we mentioned the fact that they are more of a nature reserve giving sanctuary to bird and animal life. Here is an example - a cow lazing in the sunshine on a warm summer's day, oblivous to the many people passing by having parked their cars in the car park De Zuid. It shows just how safe and comfortable the animals feel in this habitat.

Zandvoort's Dunes

2009-11-19T03:39:00.000-08:00

The dunes in The Netherlands are a common feature of the landscape and Zandvoort is no exception. Here is a photograph of Zandvoort's dunes - taken behind the beach to the South of Zandvoort.

Although the dunes appear empty in this picture, they are in fact abundant with flora, fauna, bird and animal life. Birds include crossbills and sea eagles.

The 2 main areas of dunes in Zandvoort are called the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen to the South and the Zuid-Kennemerland National to the North.

Catamaran On Zandvoort Beach

2009-11-18T04:06:00.000-08:00

At this time of year when it's cold, rainy and dark early in many places, photographs like this one keep you going and remind you of the Spring and Summer that lie just around the corner - once we get through the winter!

Sailing in Zandvoort is a popular pastime and this sight is a common one ... a small catamaran beached after a stint sailing and waiting ready for its owners to go out with the tide once more.

Zandvoort Kitesurfing Interview

2009-11-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

It's not often you get to talk to an expert kitesurfer - they are usually too busy out on the water!

As mentioned in our previous Kitesurfing In Zandvoort post, one of the regular Zandvoort kitesurfers Okke Engel gave us an interview this summer. He had just finished a session kitesurfing in Zandvoort when we caught up with him over a cup of coffee and chatted about what life is like in the 'fast lane' of this extreme sport.

In the interview he describes the all important weather conditions on the day, tells us a little about his background (he started windsurfing at the age of 12) and how he is now running his own kitesurfing school.

Watch the whole kitesurfing interview with Okke exclusively made for zandvoort-holland.com

Photo: Okke with a kitesurfing student on Zandvoort beach

Kitesurfing In Zandvoort

2009-11-16T01:50:00.000-08:00

Zandvoort is a great place for water sports and especially for kitesurfing or kiteboarding as some people call it. One of the fastest growing extreme sports in the world, kitesurfing is great not just for the participants but also spectators.

In Zandvoort this summer we got to know a local kitesurfer called Okke Engel who shared with us some detailed information about kitesurfing in Zandvoort including kitesurfing zones in Zandvoort and kitesurfing FAQ.

When you read the FAQ you begin to realise just how much there is to the sport of kitesurfing - everything from what makes it dangerous to having the right equipment, having the right training through to the importance of understanding tides and wind direction.

Pictured: Okke Engel jusf finishing a kitesurfing session

More Bicycles In Zandvoort

2009-11-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Another photo of bicyles parked above Zandvoort beach ....

This photo is one of our favourites ... not even a dustbin is allowed to get in the way when the cyclists want a day out on the beach!

Many people enjoy taking a cycle ride into the Zandvoort dunes and nature reserve where there are plenty of cycle tracks.

Bikes At Zandvoort Beach

2009-11-11T02:42:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that the Dutch love to ride bicycles and there's no better evidence of this than on a sunny day in Zandvoort.

As you walk along Boulevard Paulus Loot you can watch bike riders as they dismount and chain their bicycles up and then stroll down for a day out at the beach.

I challenge anyone to find a beach with more bicycles!

More to follow in the next post on our Zandvoort Blog.

A Fabulous Beach Sandwich - Only In Zandvoort!

2009-11-07T02:35:00.000-08:00

One of the nicest things to do on a sunny day in Zandvoort is to eat at a beach cafe. There are lots of great cafes on Zandvoort beach, offering a friendly atmosphere and some great food.

Here is a favourite amongst our family - a sandwich of mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and sliced tomatoes with pesto. Delicious!

Made by Patrick at cafe Paal 69 - not only a great chef but a kitesurfing expert too.

Zandvoort Balloon Artist - Balloon Dog Mike

2009-11-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of Balloondog Mike, a great balloon artist from Vancouver, Canada.

We photographed and filmed him entertaining people in Zandvoort's Kerkplein (at the bottom of Kerkstraat) during August 2009. These are 2 of his creations - brilliant!