How did a poor fishing village transform into a beloved seaside resort for the elite? In the new exhibition ‘The Road to Zandvoort – 200 Years of Seaside Resort’, the Zandvoorts Museum takes visitors back to the dawn of seaside tourism in the Netherlands. The exhibition is on display from March 28 to September 6 and shows how vision, ambition, and a touch of daring laid the foundation for the Zandvoort of today.
At the beginning of the 19th century, five enterprising notables from Haarlem and Amsterdam had a bold idea: to turn Zandvoort into the first seaside resort in the Netherlands. However, there was stiff competition. Scheveningen also saw opportunities in the emerging bathing culture. What followed was a true battle for the favor of the first seaside guests.
To realize their plans, the initiators devised ‘Het Plan Eener Negotiatie’ – a loan used to raise funds for a major infrastructural project: the construction of a paved road (Straatweg) to Zandvoort and the building of the first commercial bathhouse for wealthy visitors who came to the sea for health treatments and recreation.
The new road was deliberately not routed through the village. The initiators did not want to confront the new seaside guests with the poverty of the fishing village. Even the fishermen’s lighthouse had to be removed, so that the well-to-do bourgeoisie could enjoy the sea view, fresh air, and the beach undisturbed.
The exhibition tells this extraordinary story in a vivid and surprising way. Visitors discover the history through an engaging documentary, interactive elements, and a selection of original historical documents that provide a unique insight into the ambitious plans behind the birth of Zandvoort as a seaside resort. Original documents and objects from several archives are on display. A 1:50 scale model of the Groot Badhuis (Great Bathhouse) was created by Jan Kol specifically for the exhibition.
Specifically for this exhibition, Stefan de Groot, the curator of this exhibition, created an impressive life-sized painting in which the construction of the paved road near the Hogeweg comes to life. De Groot previously created the successful exhibitions ‘We’re going to Zandvoort! – an interactive journey from past to present’ and ‘Bunkers – the hidden past of Zandvoort’ for the Zandvoorts Museum.
With ‘The Road to Zandvoort – 200 Years of Seaside Resort’, you will discover that the history of Zandvoort is not just about the beach and the sea, but also about ambition, clever planning, and the long road that led to one of the most famous seaside resorts in the Netherlands.
The Road to Zandvoort – 200 Years of Seaside Resort
March 28 to September 6, 2026
Zandvoort Museum
Louis Davidsstraat 19
2042 LS Zandvoort
Historian Koen Marijt wrote the book ‘En Zandvoort heilig strand is van mijn Togt het doel’ about the construction of the paved road and the building of the Groot Badhuis. The book forms the basis for the anniversary year ‘Zandvoort 200 Years of Seaside Resort’ and is exclusively available in the Museum Shop of Zandvoorts Museum for €14.95.
On April 26 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, historian Koen Marijt will give a lecture about his research into the construction of the paved road and the building of the bathhouse in Zandvoort. Tickets can be ordered online on the Zandvoorts Museum website for €10.00.
Visual material
High-resolution images for this exhibition can be downloaded from the Zandvoorts Museum image bank.
Click here for the exhibition image bank
Video material
Please contact Stefan de Groot for video footage of the exhibition.
Background information
Please contact Stefan de Groot for more information about the history of the construction of the paved road and the bathhouse.
Note to editors, not for publication
For additional information and/or supplementary visual material, please contact Marketing & Communications.
Stefan de Groot
zandvoortsmuseum@gmail.com
You can contact Stefan de Groot by telephone.
06-34304570
Zandvoort Museum
T 023 2050972
E info@zandvoortsmuseum.nl
Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday to Sunday
Zandvoorts Museum
Louis Davidsstraat 19
2042 LS Zandvoort