Zandvoort
Encyclopedia
Zandvoort (ˈzɑntfoːrt) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands
, in the province of North Holland
.
Zandvoort is one of the major beach
resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dune
s. It is also the site of the country's most important automobile racing circuit, Circuit Park Zandvoort
.
There is a nudist beach located about 2 km to the south, with 6 cafés or restaurants; it extends several kilometers further south.
The municipality of Zandvoort consists of the communities of Bentveld
and Zandvoort.
). Until 1722 the area was under the control of the Lords of Brederode.
The village was dependent on fishing for many centuries until the 19th century when it started to transform itself into a seaside resort, following the pattern set by similar towns in the United Kingdom
. In 1828 the first resort was inaugurated. Thereafter many notable persons would visit Zandvoort, including Elisabeth of Bavaria
in 1884 and 1885. In the middle of the same century, potato cultivation started in the dunes.
In 1881 the railway station near the coast opened, followed by tram
connection to Haarlem in 1899, which greatly increased the beach tourism. In 1905 one of the earliest Dutch fictional films was shot in the town, De mésaventure van een Fransch heertje zonder pantalon aan het strand te Zandvoort
During World War II, Zandvoort was heavily damaged. On May 23, 1942, beach access was no longer permitted and several months later the town was almost completely vacated. Resorts and avenues were demolished to make way for the coastal fortifications of the Atlantic Wall
.
After the war, the town's growth accelerated, matching the growth in tourism. In 1948, Circuit Park Zandvoort
was built, hosting the Dutch Grand Prix
for several decades. Zandvoort continues to be a major Dutch resort location, where nearly half of all employment is related to tourism.
The Dutch singer Willem Duyn
's De Eerste Trein Naar Zandvoort ("First train to Zandvoort") - modeled on the American song Chattanooga Choo Choo
and chronicling chaos and mayhem on the first seaside train - was a hit in the summer of 1983.
and Amsterdam
, with extra services from Haarlem during the summer. The station is Zandvoort aan Zee railway station
.
of Zandvoort consists of 17 seats, which are divided as follows since 2010:
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in the province of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
.
Zandvoort is one of the major beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
s. It is also the site of the country's most important automobile racing circuit, Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort is a motorsport race track located in Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 108, 2041 KP in the dunes north of the town of Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, near the North Sea coast line.- History :...
.
There is a nudist beach located about 2 km to the south, with 6 cafés or restaurants; it extends several kilometers further south.
The municipality of Zandvoort consists of the communities of Bentveld
Bentveld
Bentveld is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zandvoort, and lies about 5 km west of Haarlem....
and Zandvoort.
History
Zandvoort is known to exist in 1100, called Sandevoerde (a combination of "sand" and "voorde", meaning fordFord (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
). Until 1722 the area was under the control of the Lords of Brederode.
The village was dependent on fishing for many centuries until the 19th century when it started to transform itself into a seaside resort, following the pattern set by similar towns in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1828 the first resort was inaugurated. Thereafter many notable persons would visit Zandvoort, including Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
in 1884 and 1885. In the middle of the same century, potato cultivation started in the dunes.
In 1881 the railway station near the coast opened, followed by tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
connection to Haarlem in 1899, which greatly increased the beach tourism. In 1905 one of the earliest Dutch fictional films was shot in the town, De mésaventure van een Fransch heertje zonder pantalon aan het strand te Zandvoort
During World War II, Zandvoort was heavily damaged. On May 23, 1942, beach access was no longer permitted and several months later the town was almost completely vacated. Resorts and avenues were demolished to make way for the coastal fortifications of the Atlantic Wall
Atlantic Wall
The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
.
After the war, the town's growth accelerated, matching the growth in tourism. In 1948, Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort is a motorsport race track located in Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 108, 2041 KP in the dunes north of the town of Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, near the North Sea coast line.- History :...
was built, hosting the Dutch Grand Prix
Dutch Grand Prix
The Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One automobile race held at Circuit Zandvoort, from 1948 to 1985. It was a part of the World Championship from 1952, and designated the European Grand Prix two times, 1962 and 1976, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one grand prix...
for several decades. Zandvoort continues to be a major Dutch resort location, where nearly half of all employment is related to tourism.
The Dutch singer Willem Duyn
Mouth & MacNeal
Mouth & MacNeal was a pop duo from the Netherlands. They are best known for their million selling recording of "How Do You Do".-Career:They were formed in 1971 when record producer Hans van Hemert brought together the solo talent of Mouth and Maggie MacNeal...
's De Eerste Trein Naar Zandvoort ("First train to Zandvoort") - modeled on the American song Chattanooga Choo Choo
Chattanooga Choo Choo
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a song by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon . It was recorded in a big-band/swing manner by Glenn Miller and his orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade, which starred Sonja Henie, John Payne, Glenn Miller and his orchestra, The Modernaires, Milton Berle...
and chronicling chaos and mayhem on the first seaside train - was a hit in the summer of 1983.
Transportation
Zandvoort has a station, with half hourly services to HaarlemHaarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, with extra services from Haarlem during the summer. The station is Zandvoort aan Zee railway station
Zandvoort aan Zee railway station
Zandvoort aan Zee is a terminus railway station in the town of Zandvoort, the Netherlands. The station opened on 3 June 1881, and is within walking distance of the beach. The station is on the Haarlem–Zandvoort railway. The station has 2 platforms and services are operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen...
.
Local government
The municipal councilMunicipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
of Zandvoort consists of 17 seats, which are divided as follows since 2010:
- VVD 5 seats
- Ouderen Partij Zandvoort 3 seats
- PvdA 2 seats
- CDA 2 seats
- Gemeente Belangen Zandvoort 2 seats
- GroenLinks 1 seat
- Sociaal Zandvoort 1 seat
- D66 1 seat
Born in Zandvoort
- Piet KeurPiet KeurPieter Keur is a retired football striker from the Netherlands, who was a prolific goalscorer in the 1980s and early 1990s...
(b. 1960), football player - Jan LammersJan LammersJohannes "Jan" Lammers, , is a racing driver and team principal from the Netherlands. He participated in 41 Formula One Grand Prix races, debuting on January 21, 1979. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 and later participated in the race with his own team Racing for Holland...
(b. 1956), racing driver (Formula One) - Roy Schuiten (1950–2006), cyclist and team manager
Famous Visitors / Residents of Zandvoort
- William Merritt ChaseWilliam Merritt ChaseWilliam Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
1884-1885. American Impressionist Painter (1849–1916) Painted one of his masterpieces here entitled "Sunlight and Shadow" which hangs in the Joslyn Art MuseumJoslyn Art MuseumThe Joslyn Art Museum is the principal fine arts museum in the state of Nebraska, United States of America. Located in Omaha, it is the only museum in the state with a comprehensive permanent collection...
in Omaha, Nebraska. - Robert J. Amiot (1949–1954), formerly of Bloemendaal, who as a Boy Scout repeatedly camped on the wide sandy beaches of Zandvoort and discovered a buried German land mine, saving hundreds of beach tourists. Resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA - Is a retired United States General Officer who represented the Army in Vietnam, and Kuwait.
- On 7 August 2007, a 2.5 m (8 ft) tall LegoLegoLego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
Minifigure was found in the sea at Zandvoort. It was fished out and placed on the beach. It is wearing a blue shirt with the slogan "No Real Than You Are" and red trousers. Its origins are unknown.