The exhibition focuses on the construction of the road to Zandvoort and the building of the Groot-Badhuis in 1826. How did a poor fishing village transform into a popular seaside resort for the elite? In the new exhibition “The Road to Zandvoort—200 Years as a Seaside Resort,” the Zandvoorts Museum takes visitors back to the beginnings of seaside tourism in the Netherlands. The exhibition runs from March 28 through September 6 and shows how vision, ambition, and a little bit of courage laid the foundation for the Zandvoort we know 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 carry out their plans, the organizers devised “The Eener Negotiation Plan”—an innovative loan scheme designed to raise funds for a major infrastructure project: the construction of a paved road to Zandvoort and the building of the first commercial bathhouse for affluent visitors who came to the seaside for health treatments and recreation.
The new road was deliberately not built through the village. The initiators did not want to expose the new beachgoers to the poverty of the fishing village. Even the fishermen’s bonfire had to be moved so that the affluent bourgeoisie could enjoy the sea view, fresh air, and the beach undisturbed. Between 1826 and 1828, the Groot Badhuis was built at the end of the Hogeweg, which had been constructed specifically for that purpose.
The exhibition tells this remarkable story in a lively and surprising way. Visitors discover the history through a captivating documentary, interactive elements, and a selection of original historical documents that offer a unique glimpse into the ambitious plans behind Zandvoort’s emergence as a seaside resort. On display are original documents from the Noord-Hollands Archief and the collection of the Zandvoorts Museum. Jan Kol also created a 1:50 scale model of the Groot-Badhuis especially for the exhibition.
The exhibition’s curator, Stefan de Groot, created an impressive life-size painting that brings the construction of the highway near Hogeweg to life. He is also producing a short video documentary. De Groot previously created the successful exhibitions “We’re Going to Zandvoort! – An Interactive Journey from the Past to the 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.
