Whenever Baron Eduard von der Heydt stayed in Zandvoort, he involved himself in the local community life; his interest in this was extensive. For instance, he helped make it possible for the Zandvoort gymnasts of the association Oefening Staakt Spieren to participate in competitions in Ostend (Belgium) during the 1930s. Due to his good relations with the Zandvoort Mannenkoor van Onderling Hulpbetoon, the baron became the patron of the male choir in 1929 and supported the choir by providing prizes or enabling them to participate in competitions elsewhere. The Zandvoortse Schaakvereniging, founded in 1934, also enjoyed his interest. In the 1930s, the association organized annual national chess tournaments, for which he provided the prizes. Furthermore, he became a member of the committee that campaigned for the construction of a promenade pier in Zandvoort. Various individuals from the financial world, the House of Representatives, and the Amsterdam city council took seats on the committee.
In the mid-1930s, the municipality began developing a plan for the redevelopment of the Strandweg. The baron involved himself in this as well. He donated an amount of fl 10,000 for this redevelopment. The Strandweg was made suitable for motor traffic, and a police post was established at the entrance to the lunchroom/museum Muluru.
