Zandvoort is ideally located for those who want to combine the beach with culture and history. From our short-stay accommodations, you can quickly reach Amsterdam and easily explore other beautiful old Dutch cities like Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, and Alkmaar, as well as the Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken.
Tip: All the cities mentioned are within an hour's reach of Zandvoort – by train or car. Make your stay a mix of beach vacation and cultural city break!
Amsterdam & Haarlem
Amsterdam – a world city 30 minutes away
The vibrant capital is easily accessible from your apartment in Zandvoort. Just 30 minutes by train will take you to Amsterdam Central Station and you can stroll through the heart of Amsterdam to the Jordaan district. Visit the world-famous Rijksmuseum, wander the canals, or discover the unique atmosphere of neighborhoods like Jordaan, De Pijp, or Noord. Great: you avoid the hustle and bustle of staying overnight in the city, but still enjoy all the highlights.
Haarlem – historic and charming
Just a 10-minute train ride away is Haarlem: a compact city full of atmosphere, monuments, and charming shopping streets. Visit the Frans Hals Museum, have a coffee in the Grote Markt, or stroll along the centuries-old canals.
Haarlem city center is a lovely half-hour bike ride away from your Zandvoort apartment, via a long road through the dunes.
Zaanse Schans and Alkmaar
The historic city of Alkmaar boasts 1000 monuments and narrow cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old buildings. From April to September, you can experience the cheese market on Waagplein every Friday from 10:XNUMX AM. The cheese porters, in their white suits and straw hats, weigh the cheeses, inspect the quality, and haggle over the price.
The Zaanse Schans is one of the most beautiful parts of the Netherlands. You can easily spend half a day there. This region, the oldest industrial area in Western Europe, once boasted over six hundred windmills. Twenty pairs of sails still turn at the Zaanse Schans. You can visit the old, working wooden mills. These mills saw wood and grind oil, flour, spices, and dyes.
Old Dutch towns Volendam and Marken
Visit Volendam and discover historical costumes and fishing boats. Frau Antje, the girl who promotes Dutch cheese in Germany, wears a derivative of the Volendam costume. From Volendam harbor, you can take a boat to the Marken peninsula. Boats depart to and from Volendam every 30 minutes. A day trip to Volendam or Marken with a ferry crossing offers a unique view of the former Zuiderzee. Marken is characterized by its wooden houses on stilts. Even older are the so-called "werven" (yards), artificial elevations where people lived.
Leiden and Delft
Leiden – city of Rembrandt
Leiden is steeped in history. Rembrandt's birthplace boasts countless museums, courtyards, and charming squares. Perfect for a day trip packed with culture and relaxation.
Delft – blue, beer and technology
Delft is known for its Delftware, but also for its connection to William of Orange and Delft University of Technology. You'll find a charming city center with canals, churches, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Fancy a day trip from Zandvoort by bike?
Explore the immediate surroundings by bike, but also take a nice day trip by bike to the Keukenhof via a cycle route of 24 to 40 km long.
Haarlem's city center is easily accessible by bike; a trip of about half an hour, for example, via a long road through the dunes.