Is Zandvoort Worth Visiting? The Beach near Amsterdam

If you live in Europe in a country near the Netherlands, then you have most definitely heard of Zandvoort. It is a beach destination that’s close to Amsterdam popular amongst the local Dutch and the nearby Germans.

Zandvoort and Bloemendaal are two beaches that are easy to reach on a day trip from Amsterdam and are along the North Sea.

So the question is – is Zandvoort worth visiting?

I visited Zandvoort twice in the summer of 2023, so I will help you decide with the below points.

Zandvoort Beach & Bloemendaal Beach

I have lived in Asia for most of my life so I’m spoilt when it comes to beaches since one can find the perfect palm-fringed sandy beaches in many coastal areas of Asia.

European beaches have often disappointed me. I didn’t expect a lot from Zandvoort too but I was pleasantly surprised to see how stunning this beach is.

Zandvoort Beach is massive, it stretches to 9 kilometers long, and Bloemendaal Beach adds another 4.5 km and is 100 meters wide on average. There are plenty of sand dunes too!

Zandvoort and Bloemendaal beaches are one after another so if you are visiting Zandvoort, you can definitely visit the nearby Bloemendaal on that same trip. Bloemendaal definitely has a better beach area because it is less crowded than Zandvoort.

Both these beaches have super soft white sand and clear water that’s usually cold. The sandy part of Zandvoort Beach and Bloemendaal stole my heart because

The windy climate of Zandvoort & Bloemendaal makes ideal conditions for kite surfers. The wind also creates an interesting landscape.

So in terms of the beauty of the beach, Zandvoort definitely wins.

Kennemerland National Park

On the North of Bloemendal beach is Kennemerland National Park, where you can go on bicycles. The atmosphere here is very calm and you can see the natural scenery with endless dunes.

If you like trees and grassy hills then you will enjoy Kennemerland National Park. Don’t expect anything else here or any spectacular scenes because that’s about it.

Bird-watching enthusiasts will enjoy Kennemerland National Park because it offers a lot of possibilities.

I have heard that one can also see World War 2 Bunkers but we didn’t find them at all. If you are interested, then I saw a tour for EUR 20 per person which includes a walking trail and the secret WW2 bunkers.

Some travelers also saw wild horses and bison inside the national park but we didn’t. Our camping spot in Bloemendaal was right next to Kennemerland National Park, so we did see a wild deer once but not when we were inside the national park.

Costs in Zandvoort & Bloemendaal

Zandvoort isn’t the most affordable destination. The rooms are usually at least 150 euros per night for a family in season, and they sell out pretty fast.

The campgrounds are more affordable than the rooms of course, but they are still not cheap.

The restaurants and cafes in Zandvoort aren’t cheap. Food in a restaurant for a family can be as expensive as EUR 60 for three (a couple and a kid).

If you rent a bicycle in Zandvoort, it can be as expensive as EUR 30 per day and sometimes even more.

Of course, there are ways to minimize costs. When you look for a place to stay, don’t just limit your options to Zandvoort, but also look at Bloemendaal. Bloemendaal isn’t cheaper but has more family-friendly stuff.

We booked a shack on a campground in Bloemendaal, cooked our own meals, and ate out only once a day. Also, we found food trucks that sold fresh seafood and fish and were affordable.

So, in terms of costs, Zandvoort definitely doesn’t win. For the price of 2 days in Zandvoort, one can enjoy a week in Portugal.

Food in Zandvoort

I have said it before and I will reiterate – the food scene in the Netherlands is amazing. Not only is the local food delicious but one can easily find international food or also vegan versions of most of the dishes.

If you like fish then you will especially love the food in Zandvoort. Even though Dutch food isn’t spicy, it doesn’t lack flavor and that’s why I love the local food.

I love Kibbeling (the local fried fish), Bitterballen (fried balls with meat and vegan versions), seafood sandwiches, and overall I like the use of a herb called “Zeekraal” that the Dutch use, which adds a herby yet seaweed kind of a flavor.

Apart from that, I have always enjoyed amazing international food and I’d like to mention a place called Little Jamaican Bistro in Haarlem, just 15 minutes drive away from Zandvoort.

A lot of Dutch snacks and foods are fried, so if you don’t like that then you’d enjoy salads too that are super filling.

So in terms of food, Zandvoort definitely wins.

Weather in Zandvoort

The weather in Zandvoort is unpredictable and it can rain anytime. I don’t mean the normal rain but it gets stormy and one can’t do anything.

I have heard incidents of people whose tents flew away because of a windstorm in Zandvoort.

Of course, the months of June, July, August, and sometimes even September are warm but don’t take sunny days on the beach as a guarantee if you visit Zandvoort.

Instead, prepare for the wind. If you are going with a kid then carry a kite and make it fun for them. My little girl loved flying her kite on the beach here because the wind made it so easy!

So in terms of weather, Zandvoort doesn’t always win but if you like kite surfing or windsurfing then it will work out well for you.

Zandvoort for Formula One Enthusiasts

Did you know that the Dutch Grand Prix has been held annually in Zandvoort since 2021? It was added to the Formula One calendar in 2019. It is called Circuit Zandvoort and also CM.com Circuit Zandvoort. Before 2017, it was called the Circuit Park Zandvoort

Zandvoort and Bloemendaal have many cycling trails and when we cycled around the Dunes, we were stopped by our guide near the race track and we could hear the practice! It is more towards Bloemendaal beach than Zandvoort beach.

If you are a Formula One enthusiast, that’s one reason for you to visit Zandvoort, even if the race isn’t occurring at the time of your visit!

Nearby Destinations

One of the best things about traveling in the Netherlands is that there is always an interesting destination around and it is so easy to visit the nearby destinations.

If you visit Zandvoort, then visit the nearby Haarlem because it is just a 15-minute drive away and is pretty. You can also cycle to Haarlem from Zandvoort. I did it and it was fun.

Apart from Haarlem, you can also take a train or a bus to make a day trip to Amsterdam. You can plan it in a way that you can visit Haarlem or Amsterdam on a day when there’s a storm possibility in Zandvoort because you will still have fun in the city when it is raining!

In springtime, you can also consider visiting Keukenhof and Lisse to see the tulips.

So is Zandvoort worth visiting?

It depends. As mentioned before, Zandvoort is expensive and in summer it is even more expensive than Amsterdam, which already is an expensive destination.

So, Zandvoort is worth visiting if you are ok spending a bit more than other beach destinations. Also, if you live nearby and are looking for a beach trip with a short travel time then in that case Zandvoort makes sense.

I live around 4 hours drive away from Zandvoort so I’d pick it as a destination only when I have 2-3 days of holiday time. For a longer holiday, I’d pick the beaches of Portugal since they are more affordable and warmer.

Where to stay in Zandvoort?

As mentioned before, don’t limit your search for places to stay in just Zandvoort but also include Bloemendaal aan Zee.

If you want a “beachfront” room, then you need to know that you won’t get that in Zandvoort even if the booking website says it is because there is a street in front. However, on Bloemendaal you can get beachfront rooms or camping areas.

On the other hand, if you want to be close to the restaurants, bars, nightlife, or the city center within walking distance of the beach, then book something at Zandvoort.

• Pension Zandvoort aan Zee: A cozy apartment that’s close to the beach with all the basic amenities.
• Hotel / Pension Villa Tanahlot: Another cozy apartment close to the beach.
• Poort Beach Boutique Apartments: A truly beachfront property on Bloemendaal Beach. If you have the money then spend on this place to have the beach experience that you deserve on a beach holiday.

Having visited Zandvoort twice, I’d pick Bloemendaal Beach to stay head to Zandvoort for food, nightlife, and the city scenes.

We stayed in a place called “Kennemer Duincamping De Lakens” which we booked directly online. This place sells out a year in advance, so I wish you all the best for finding anything here.

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